#Bundy selmer flute serial numbers serial numbers#
#Bundy selmer flute serial numbers serial number#
#Bundy selmer flute serial numbers archive#
#Bundy selmer flute serial numbers full#

This range became the initial boundary for 1927 production. Between the 53 range, most of the saxes were sold in 1927. The range from 7300 to 7800 also showed less than half of the sales in 1927, with most of the remainder being sold in 1928.

#Bundy selmer flute serial numbers serial number#

The chart at left shows that less than one quarter of the saxes in the 5000 to 5299 serial number range were sold in 1927. (5000 вЂ“ 5099, 5100 вЂ“ 5199 etc) and the total number of 1927 sales within each group was calculated. Next, they were grouped into serial number ranges of 100. Beginning with a list of all the actual 1927 sales, they were sorted by serial number. It quickly became obvious that an improved chart was needed.ДЇortunately, the primary shipping data could now be used to rebuild the serial number chart from scratch. ThatвЂ™s only two out of three! So about a third of the people using the list got the wrong year for their saxophone. The average accuracy for the entire existing serial number chart was a disappointing 66%. This process was repeated for each year up to 1975. Dividing the actual number (1537) by the alleged number (2249) revealed that the serial number range for 1927 was only 68% correct. An additional 404 were shipped in 1928 and 27 more were shipped even later than that. Only 1537 saxophones within this range were shipped in 1927. A search of the actual shipping dates for this serial number range revealed the following: By simple subtraction, 2249 saxophones were allegedly built in 1927. The existing serial number chart showed a range from 5601 to 7850.

#Bundy selmer flute serial numbers full#

LetвЂ™s take a look at 1927, the earliest year for which full data was available.

Finally, it was possible to do a detailed study of each yearвЂ™s actual sales and compare them the to the information suggested in the existing serial number chart. (1927 to 1975) After several trips to Paris and several thousand hours of research and study, the original shipping data was collected and organized. The first phase of the research was to study the records from the beginning up to the end of the Mark VI era. Whether earlier notebooks were lost or were never kept is unfortunately unknown. The data started at serial #5000 and continued for over 75 years. In most cases, there was no mention of what model was being produced.

#Bundy selmer flute serial numbers archive#

The archive records contain four key elements: But, the fact that all the data still existed was like finding a treasure. Some were neat and detailed and others were nearly illegible and of course, it is all written in French. The archives are comprised of a series of very old and fragile notebooks, written by a variety of people, in a variety of handwriting styles. Once there, the daunting nature of the task became apparent. With a background in statistical analysis and an established record in the study of Selmer history, Douglas was able to secure access to these archives. It is well known that Selmer Paris possesses some archival records but they are not available to the public.

Douglas Pipher decided to take on the challenge.Д¬learly the first step was to collect as much primary data as possible. Was the chart built from specific data or was it just someoneвЂ™s estimate a guess which eventually became assumed to be an absolute truth? With these questions in mind, the need for a fresh look became clear, to see if there was a way to measure the accuracy, or inaccuracy, of the existing chart. It also seems unlikely that each yearвЂ™s production ended at a conveniently round number. It seems unlikely that every new model was introduced exactly at the beginning of a new year. But there are problems with the existing chart, such as the timing of the introduction of the different models. Many saxophonists use it as the authority for determining when an instrument was made.

The existing Selmer Serial Number Chart has been available on the internet for years.

#Bundy selmer flute serial numbers serial numbers#

Selmer paris saxophone serial number chart Selmer Serial Numbers вЂ“ a Fresh Approach