Model Evolution Timeline
By serial number 78,000, Buescher saxophones had acquired the. It is my belief that this catalog is the last mention of Elkhart. 1959 Buescher Instruments Catalog Saxophone.org After this, the Elkhart trumpet is renamed Aristocrat, same as the cornet, and they use Elkhart serial numbers until, I surmise, those valve blocks are used up. The address is consistent with Buescher Block and is coincidental with a Buescher planned plant expansion. Elkhart adds other band instruments; brass and metal clarinets documented so far. 8) 1929 - FA Buescher 'retires' 9) 1930 - Elkhart changes its serial system to a simple number system start at 1, earliest recorded is 6 in brass, 75 in saxes.
The Buescher Elkhart Ind Saxophone Serial Numbers
by Steve Goodson DATES AND SERIAL NUMBERS ARE APPROXIMATE
Martin Elkhart Saxophone Serial Numbers
| Year | Serial Number | Comments |
| 1905 | 5,000 | All records prior to 1905 lost to factory fire in 1903…..first automatic (single) octave key….Pearl button G#…..black rollers |
| 1914 | 22,860 | “Union Label” engraving introduced |
| 1916 | 28,875 | Gus Buescher sells company to investors |
| 1919 | 46,975 | Gus Buescher resigns as company president |
| 1921 | 78,525 | Snap On Pad patented |
| 1923 | 125,750 | Soprano G# hinge changed…..sopranino loses dedicated G# key touch |
| 1925 | 175,235 | Front F key becomes standard….G# key touch becomes rectangle |
| 1926 | 203,350 | Buescher merges with the Elkhart Band Instrument Company…..LH pinky cluster changes to four roller format |
| 1928 | 235,350 | Straight alto and tipped bell (Bb and C) sopranos introduced…..! |
| 1932 | 264,025 | New Aristocrat model….split bell keys |
| 1935 | 269,000 | Aristocrat model…..LH bell keys……G# key engraved “Buescher”……yellow rollers…..Norton springs |
| 1936 | 272,896 | Brown rollers appear…..five roller format for LH Pinky cluster……Elkhart brand used on student instruments……. |
| 1941 | 294,120 | “Big B” bell engraving…….ribbon style keyguards…… |
| 1942 | 297,527 | 400 model…..underslung neck….silver tone ring….top hat and cane engraving….brown rollers…..bell keys on right rear of the bell |
| 1950 | 332,000 | “Aristocrat” engraving….G# trill key dropped |
| 1955 | 350,000 | Super 400 model…..nickel resonance ring…..yellow rollers……nickel plated keywork …..standard 400 loses underslung neck….. |
| 1956 | 352,000 | Bell keys to RH side on rear of bell……nickel plated keywork |
| 1957 | 358,000 | nickel plated keywork on 400 |
| 1963 | 381,000 | Selmer USA buys Buescher |
| 1965 | 408,818 | 400 bell keys to left side of bell….underslung neck….. |
| 1976 | 638,000 | white rollers |