A very early FL blank with the very high and steep ledge drop to the beak, these are the first Florida slant models with facing stamped on the side. These have a slightly larger chamber and would trend slightly darker but with a significant baffle become powerhouses of complexity. This one was refaced to .103 by Ochuttio and plays very big and powerful. Should be a good deal for any player who wants to cut through with fatness and depth. Has some normal wear on the bite area that won’t affect anything but could be filled with minimal work.
Author Archives: Horned Toad
Excellent Early Berg Larsen Type (mixed?) Font Tenor 105
Here we have a very nice find, early Berg Larsen 105/1/M. This piece has the original denim table milling marks and a wonderful delicately finished tip rail and baffle quite likely faced by Berg Larsen himself. This is the style all the early ones are done in, by, I think, himself. Unusually this piece actually measures right at .105 on my tools. The slant signature Bergs and pieces near that time period usually measure exactly as stamped but slightly later ones (like this should be) trend .005 smaller. This one is accurate to the stamp, no idea why.
The font on the shank seems to have SOME of earlier serif font. I believe someone has replaced the biteplate with a modern marbled rubber. I see no evidence of any other work done. This piece plays rather huge and fat. It is pretty accurate for a #1 baffle being brilliant while also not excessively bright or at all shrill.
There are many of destroyed, later model, etc Berg Larsens to be found but the Serif Font denim table originals are few and far between now.
Selmer MK VI 115xxx mint original US Lac. NEARLY NEW!
Here we have a rather rare find; a 1964 Mark VI tenor that is in nearly new condition. The pads are all original with lacquer rings outside the toneholes. The finish shows some water spots and a tiny amount of speckle but almost no wear of any kind, even on frequently touched keys. The neck has matching number and is in beautiful un-flexed condition with not really any wear. The bottom bow and bell flare are both structurally spotless. The body in general only has a few tiny scratches. At a careful review of the photos you can see the kind of freckling of the lacquer with darker and lighter spotted areas; this is a slow aging or darkening process of original Selmer lacquer. The horn also needs a basic cleaning and will look even more shiny and new.
Given its original condition after so many years it really will need an overhaul. That said, I have been playing it and it IS playing, pretty well. It has the fast and nimble response that is associated with the 110k-120k model period. While these would normally be slightly on the focused/centered side of response when the pads get old and dried out that is hard to discern. In this case what I can say is that it is bright and sparkly juxtaposed with really utterly huge and booming, in a way I was not prepared for. This is a BIG sounding horn, like a mid-80k might be. With an overhaul it will likely be both fast, AND huge.
It feels excellent under the fingers and is pretty much at the apex of Selmer positive engineering before they brought in the ball joint side keys, which no one really loves. This is as close to a brand new Selmer MK VI from 1964 as anyone can expect and it just happens to be a super promising horn as well.
Selmer MK VI 79xxx Tenor Beautiful Original Treasure
Here we have a really strikingly nice condition original 1959 MARK VI tenor; original US lacquer and engraving, matching neck and nice overhaul with metal resos. We all know what these are, late 70k-early 90k tenors are a particular thing. Of course it is a spectrum with usually a bit more focus and buzz and warmth on the 70k end leading to a bit more power, acceleration and booming bottom on the late 80k-early90k end- your mileage may vary.
This being right on the cusp of the 80k run has qualities associated with both 80k and 70k being that it is kind of buzzy, focused and warm (very warm) and yet also has some of the expanse and power of the 80’s. The pads are very recent and it’s playing quite nicely.
The lacquer is probably 98-99% present and all original. There is no significant damage or repair of any kind that I see on this horn. The bottom bow, bell, body and neck are all basically structurally perfect with the exception of a few TINY dings and scratches. I am still getting to know this horn, but it is definitely one of those unicorn minty rarities at this serial number and with that special tone to power ratio. Not very easy to find one like this now.
Otto Link FL Double Ring 4* near MINT original package, killer player.
Here we have a very minty original Otto Link Double Ring Florida tenor piece with original box, cap and ligature. It is stamped 4*and has the appropriate .075 tip size. The gold plating is somewhat faded but all of the underlying nickel is there, some of these had a nickel underlayer. The piece is in excellent condition, ligature, box, etc. all very nice, but this piece PLAYS exceptionally well. I put a 2.5 reed on it for fun and it still played very well. Wonderful sound, loud, complex and colorful. With a 3 or harder reed it would be amazing.
It also has a rather thick tip so if someone did want to injure that lovely plating and open it up, it is a great candidate. the current baffle is not big at all, which is a good thing on a small tip for better airflow. It is helpful to not have a huge amount of baffle before opening up such a piece because we don’t want to have a speedbump up front.
Altogether this is a very nice package for a great playing smaller tip FL double ring, or a great candidate for making the perfect size. Hard to find minty originals of these anywhere now.
Selmer Trumpet 1955 Model 20
Wonderful original vintage find; Henri Selmer Model 20 (very rare) Trumpet. The is serial number 15xxx with a likely 1955 manufacture date. It is in excellent condition having been refreshed in all ways by a local brass expert from Shires. It is obviously missing a bit of the original lacquer as someone loved it well and was a bid handsy with it. It is ready to play, and of course, good luck finding another model 20. Most people barely know they exist.
King SIlversonic Cleveland 406xxx single-socket original pro owned PLAYER!
Here is a wonderful King Silversonic I am helping a friend sell, serial 406xxx, late Cleveland production, single socket silver neck (and bell) currently in good playing condition. This is owned by a working professional player and it is typical of the huge broad and cutting delivery of King. The single socket neck adds a bit more focus and direct projection as well.
This one is in quite nice condition, not mint and yet very well taken care of with no significant damage nor repair in evidence. it will need some minor tweak/adjustment at the most, basically just ready to use. Cruise the photos below at your own risk of obsession and contact for more stimulating details. This message has not been approved by hornaddicts anonymous.
Otto Link early FL serialed 6 original rarity, APEX vintage tone
These early Florida serial numbered Links are basically the same as double ring Links, same moderate baffle, same smaller chamber and slightly more focused complex sound. Those who know about these, know. Those who don’t…
This is a real untouched original in very very clean condition. It plays VERY well at around .088 size with the right reed. These are probably harder to find than double rings and people generally are not selling them.
Selmer MK VI 81xxx original lac. US engr. Apex HT overhaul Pretty condition
This is a wonderful special vintage original 81xxx 1959 tenor. I’ve given this the complete restoration treatment, a full overhaul. It is original US lacquer and engraved, and setup with a slightly harder treated pad and mostly original nickel plated brass Tone-x resonator set as well. The tone is in the middle on the dark-bright spectrum, slightly on the focused side in the context of 80k tenors, and features an exceptionally fast and commanding airspeed and projection, with a significant edge on the sound. It has both power and a great capacity for beauty. The key action is tight, fast, and exceptionally comfortable. This is an apex MK VI for the discerning pro player, and the condition is on the edge of minty as well.
It HAS lived a bit, some brass smoothing has been done on the side of the bow and left side (chair area) of the body. The neck is completely free of any pulldown or significant damage, tiny pings only. The bell flare, bow cap etc very very nice. Old horns are mostly not 100% perfect but this one is in quite nice condition with normal scratches and signs of professional preference and use.
It is a highly enjoyable player and ready to make works of art in music at the highest level. Below the seductively pretty pics are the stages of the overhaul process as well.
Otto Link Slant Signature (not FL) original mint 5*
Beautiful clean facing original, measures at .075. This has a wonderful large, lush, and crisp sound.
