1920's    Lyon & Healy Anerican Professional C-Melody Saxophone. 

Currently requiring a little work.  Basically sound, but has a dent under the bow that has also affected the low-C tonehole - but once overhauled these are gorgeous C-melody saxophones.  Dishes metal touches for the main keys (instead of Pearl) make for very tactile playing.  This is a Buescher 'stencil' - manufactured for Lyon & Healy by Buescher, but engraved by Lyon & Healy.

(comes with period wooden case, in fair condition)

Update - 12 May 2010

I've had a chance to check out the sax more thoroughly, and the following pictures give more details of any overhaul considerations.  The sax will require a full repad - those pads that are left on the sax are the original white ones -, and a few new springs will also be required.  A full cleaning of the silver plate might be considered, although I think the eighty year old patina is full of character - I'd personally just clean up the 'touch areas' (key surfaces, toneholes etc.) and leave the rest of the horn pretty much 'as is'.

The neck tenon may just have to be slightly expanded, or the socket tightened, as the neck (original) could do with being slightly more solidly gripped - imho.

As well as the damage to the low C tonehole, the following areas will need some attention, all probably damage sustained when (I assume) the instrument was dropped at some time in the past -

a)  The RH Eb/C key cluster is out of alignment - in that the Eb key is bent down towards the body of the instrument -

b)  The LH 'B' key springs open - it does close right down, but opens far too wide.  There is a missing spring, so this may be part of the cause.  One picture shows the key open, another with it held in the normal position by gentle finger pressure on the action.

c)  A couple of arms on the bell key guards ( Eb, B) need a little straightening as one leg on each rubs against the pad cup.

BUT - GOOD NEWS - the 'drop damage' does not seem to have affected the body at either end of the bell-brace, there are no signs of damage at the attachment points. 

I do have a few old Buescher C-Melody cases, so I will sort out the 'best of the bunch' one to go with this sax - inevitably they all seem to need new handles...