Cosmetically, I see no significant dents or scratches on the body. There is one micro ding near the low C sharp and another even smaller near the low B and B flat holes. There is another micro ding up at the top near the cork. None of these are obvious and take careful examination to find. There are some typical finish imperfections under some of the keys and around some tone holes. There is no visible wear showing on any of the keys or thumbrests with one minor exception. There is some barely visible, if you're looking, underlying silver showing through on the very bottom of the octave key. Original gold plate finish is intact in the 97% range which is phenomenal in an original finish this old.
This finish was more challenging to determine due to the excellent condition. The engraving in both the serial number area and the bell are deep and quite crisp as you can see from the pictures. This clearly establishes that the finish must be either bare brass or gold plate. The tone of the instrument is very refined and smooth like gold, not at all ragged and raw like with bare brass. Also the one very light wear spot on the octave key is beginning to show through to the underlying silver, another strong indicator that it's a gold plate finish. So I believe this to be a gold plate instrument and I have restored dozens of these before so I have experience with them.
This horn was torn down, cleaned out, body and keys polished, body and keys separately treated with a powerful anti tarnish substance (better than a clear lacquer as it is transparent and non inhibiting sound-wise and doesn't peel or flake off with age), then all corks and pads replaced. This sax had most all its original white pads still on it prior to the repad and they are saved in a clear plastic bag inside the case as a keepsake. The new pads are flat washer metal resonator style similar to the Conn reso pads Conn used later after this timeframe. This horn is partially through break in, but may need more regular playing by its new owner to complete that.
No mouthpiece comes with this sax, though there is the original gold plate music lyre. Also there is a brand new neck cork as well, as the previous one was the original which had disintegrated. It comes in a nice deluxe vintage gray with orange lining case that as far as I know is not the original it came with.
Another note, this anti tarnish treatment on the entire horn I perform is extra work but should keep this horn cleaner and more tarnish free for some years to come. I can also say this is one of the most gorgeous and warmly playing sopranos I have ever restored!
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