When George M. Bundy signed his name to the following Selmer Paris ad in 1945, he had no idea that the Mark VI—that was still 9 years away—would prove his comments to be true beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. As a matter of fact, many players, myself included, suspect that Selmer wishes their Mark VIs weren’t so damn popular and sought-after today.
A dealer on eBay is selling this original Selmer ad. Given the year it came out, Selmer’s then-current production horn would have been the Balanced Action. Today, some players prefer the Balanced Action horns over the Mark VI, and some BAs can actually fetch more than VIs.
Source: brogsy on eBay.com
To save you from eye strain, here is what the text says:
IN PARIS in July I had the chance to talk to many GI musicians as to their willingness to pay the prevailing high prices for Selmers. Their usual answers—
THEY LAST LONGER Even with the rather inflated rate of the France franc, the Paris Selmer retail showroom was packed daily with musicians of the Armed Forces who were buying instruments as rapidly as finished. Many told me of the rough treatment their instruments had in the USO tours over Europe. The said “Selmers not only perform better, but they hold up.”
Although new Selmers have been off the market here for six years, musicians who use their instruments on long grinds in radio and sound picture work in centers like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, say that the added strength of Selmer’s power-hammered keywork, plus their general sturdy construction, has enabled them to carry on with a minimum of repairs.
Geo. M. Bundy Signature
No wonder used Selmers are at much a premium. Ask any Selmer player.
Selmer Logo
Elkhart, Indiana
Have your dealer place your name on his Selmer preference list.
Selmer Paris horns have never been inexpensive instruments, but then they were made for professional musicians. And like any tools made for professionals, you pay more them. That just makes sense. Add to that the exchange rates, and of course Selmer Paris horns will cost more.
However, a Selmer’s ability to maintain its value over decades defies logic. This phenomena is very complex, and is likely a combination of consumer want, and the lack of Selmer’s ability to capture and maintain players’ interests in their newer offerings.
The backlash against the dropping of the Mark VI was immediate, and it took Selmer a long time to come up with offerings that were even close to having the wide-spread appeal that the Mark VI had. Despite all of Selmer’s current saxophone offerings, it is still having to compete against its vintage Mark VI, and to a lesser degree its BA and SBA horns. You might say Selmer is a victim of its own success.
In any event, I thought that the above ad from 1945 was an interesting bit of foreshadowing. Like I said, there’s no way any anyone at Henri Selmer Paris, or Mr. George M. Bundy—who at the time headed up Selmer USA—could have foreseen the future. If they had, I wonder what the Mark VI would have looked like?
If you are interested in buying the original ad, here is how the seller describes it:
This is an original 1945 print advertisement for Selmer Saxophones
Ad measures approximately 7.5 x 10.75 in.
Condition Graded: Good+
Shipped Flat in Clear Archival Sleeve & Sturdy Cardboard Mailer
The Buy It Now price for this vintage ad is $9.95. Or if you prefer, you can make the seller an offer. Although there is no end date given for the sale, on the date of writing, November 16, it shows that there are 7 days left.
