Well if you just answered yes to this question, then this instrument currently on eBay might be the answer to your inner turmoil: a beautiful slide saxophone by Reiffel and Husted.
Source: eBay.com
Here is how the seller is describing this rare bird of the saxophone family:
Slide Saxophone by Ruffel and Husted
Serial # 1090, made in Chicago
This is a very rare slide soprano saxophone. There are not many left. To find one in this condition is very difficult. The body is dent free and looks great, slide works well. Original everything. . It plays great from top to bottom. It is ready to go. This is a rare find. It also has been checked out by Oleg, one of the worlds foremost repair men, he worke don it and it is ready to go. Email us any questions or phone us. Bid with confidence and a good luck!
We also ask you to check out the rest of our vintage saxophones we will be selling on ebay shortly. This is from a collection that is now being sold.
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
The auction for the rare Reiffel & Husted slide sax runs until June 30. The Buy It Now price is $19,000. Or you can make the seller an offer. There were no offers yet at the time of writing.
As I mentioned in my post of January 2 this year:
The peculiar slide saxophone was one of saxophonic curiosities that was a product of the early 20th century. Like so many of these quirky horns, the slide sax never caught on, and is now a rarity in vintage saxophone world…
There were only a few manufacturers of slide saxophones. Swanee and Reiffel & Husted are the 2 makes we see most commonly.
The above-noted post also contained a video clip of a performance of a Swanee slide sax. Oh, and BTW, there was a Swanee slide sax that sold on eBay in October 2009 for around $1100. It was also in very nice condition, and came with its original instruction manual.
I don’t know what the differences between the Swanee and the Reiffel & Husted are, but the latter certainly looks a lot more sturdy, and more musical instrument-like. The Swanee in contrast, looks more toy-like. Hey, but what do I know? I’m basing this entirely on the pics, since I’ve never had the opportunity to hold either in my hands.
Update: This slide sax by Reiffel & Husted did not sell by auction’s close. As a matter of fact, it did not attract even 1 offer.
Anyone surprised? I can’t imagine anyone here is. I think you guys are a pretty savvy bunch.
This slider’s price was about 10Xs the price of what a slide sax in nice condition would sell for. Sure add a few extra $’s because this is an especially nice specimen, but 18K more? I don’t think so…And I guess any potential buyers on eBay didn’t think so either.