In other words, in general terms, this serial number chart is pretty accurate. In specific terms, it isn't. The only horns that can be 100% accurately identified by date are the Supers and Model 49.
SML Wooden Clarinet - serial number 6762. Fantastic wooden clarinet in great shape. SML instruments are some of the finest in the industry. This SML clarinet is easy blowing and produces a rich, deep, tone that will delight. These 'Strasser' Series clarinets were the entry instruments that were built along with the Marigeaux and Lemaire line in the Paris facility. Viaggio a lourdes. The SML instruments, including the saxophone and oboes, all represent some of the finest offerings for deep rich tone and excellent intonation.
Includes Vandoren 5RV13 mouthpiece with LG Laser Super Revelation ligature and Backun custom barrel. Includes a generic hard-side carry case. Ships one day after payment confirmation. This item is sold As-Described This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. Product Specs Condition: Brand: Model: Finish: Categories: Made In: France.
I understand and would agree with you if it were not for those pesky conn valve blocks. I am unaware that an independent manufacturer would exactly copy another manufacturers valve block. That would demand individual valve block tooling for each class of instrument. A conn valve block on one, a Bach valve block on another. This would jack the price right up for the instrument so I am dubious about that having happened. The sensible approach would be to make the instrument with your own core products and add on the paraphernalia and details of conn such as water keys caps buttons braces etc. A valve block is not a detail.
Valve block construction detail and appearance is pretty fundamental in my opinion. I have never seen these conn valve blocks on another makers instrument than conn.
Conn didnt use this valve block design on every instrument they made, but they did on most of them both cornets and trumpets. I note that the braces between leadpipe and bell are not conn design so questions still exist over those.
Is it possible that the company sourced some conn parts including the valve blocks direct from conn in some kind of trade agreement along with the water keys etc and simply fabricated the majority of the rest of the instrument. Such trade agreements were commonplace. Bach used bought in valve blocks for some time as I understand it.
Here is an interesting question, what does the valve in each chamber look like is it a conn crysteel or a standard top sprung or a standard bottom sprung. In the thirties a group of makers continued Besson production under the name of SML (Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire), the Aubertins (father and son) not only making the valves but also making the bells and doing the final assembly. The people who played these trumpets appreciated the (rediscovered) quality and finish and lost no time in finding out that the real makers were the Aubertins. ​Given the low serial number it seems there is a good chance my horn was one of these horns made in the 30's. On the other hand it could be that production was really small and the 30's SML horns have even smaller serial numbers.
Rekening bank mandiri. Hey more data. I found SML trumpet S/N 2015 on Ireland eBay: For posterity here are a couple pictures from that listing.
This is a later serial number (the listing says 0015 but look at the horn, its marked 2015). The valves are completely identical inside to my 14XX valves, including exposed springs and large ribs on the inner tops like I have not seen before. Also my case is identical in terms of build style as this one, same latches handle shape etc. It seems like they were at the same time making Besson-looking horns and Conn-looking horns.
The star of David seems an unusual symbol for the period. Looking at the SML sax pages that is only found on the 'Rev A' horns which are the earliest ones and were made from 1930s to maybe 1941. So it seems like some evidence that 2015 is a pre-war horn. Click to expand.That star looks a bit off center and definitely crudely proportioned while the rest of the transfer stencil outlined bell crest is quite professional. I have a fear that it may date this horn to between September 1940 and April 1941 - the period during which goods produced by Jewish persons and businesses in occupied France were subjected to the same anti-Semitic legislation and labeling as had happened early in Germany.
By April, dispossession of Jews became the norm during this terrible period in French history, but the Nazi practice for not yet dispossessed Jewish concerns had previously been requiring clear markings (to warn Aryans not to buy) on such goods. Given the lack of refinement to the marks, this really has that sort of a look to it. If so, I suppose that lends support to a pre-war dating of the subject horn. I've had this instrument for over a week and wanted to update on how it plays. In short, its awesome! I don't have many horns to compare to unfortunately, my main horn now is an Edwards gen 3.