Today’s fun, vintage saxophone fact, comes to us compliments of the Martin Committee II. Did you know that the Martin Committee II had quite a famous endorser in its day?
According to The Martin Story, the Committee II was made from 1939 – 1942. Edwin van Druten goes on to say that:
The story goes that this horn is based on a LeBlanc design. (I don’t know if this is true but if you compare it to a LeBlanc sax of that era the way the name is engraved in the horn is exactly the same.)
That same story says that LeBlanc withdrew their license on that design. So that could be the reason the “The Martin ____” was introduced…
The engraving of a lion, crown on the bell gave it their nickname: “The Martin Lion and Crown model”.
So who was this famous endorser of the Committee II you ask? Well according to this 1939 ad currently appearing on eBay, Martin had none other than Norman Bates extol the virtues of the then newest model Martin.
Source: ANTIQUE~GRAPHIQUE
Now for those of you under 30, and/or unfamiliar with 1960s pop culture, It would only be a short time after this endorsement, that Norman Bates ended up running the family motel on a lonely stretch of California highway…
Photo by H. Kahlke
…and in 1960, becoming the feature of Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh.
Hang on, I have some fact checkers jumping up and down trying to get my attention. 😉 Apparently Psycho was based on a different Norman Bates. Damn… And just when I thought this was going to get really interesting. Oh well, back to saxophones… 
If you are interested in checking out a Martin Committee II for yourself, there is a tenor currently for sale on the American eBay site. 
Source: john8p4m
The seller has uploaded lots of pics of the horn, and there you can see the lion engraving that give the Committee II the “The Martin Lion and Crown model” nickname.
Source: john8p4m
I find the bell to body brace rather interesting on the Committee II. Note it still says “Handcraft”.
Source: john8p4m
This reminds me of the Bueschers. Buescher evolved from the True Tone model to the Aristocrat, but maintained the True Tone label on its horns. This True Tone label can also be found on the Buescher 400.
Also interesting on the Committee II, is the key guard for the bell keys.
Source: john8p4m
Why all this attention on an American vintage horn? Yes, I know there are lots of sites that write about them. (But I doubt anyone has tied them in with Alfred Hitchcock before. You gotta’ admit, that was original.) 😀
I tend to pay attention mostly to European horns, but the truth is, I do love vintage, American saxes. My main working tenor ATM is my Zeph. I cycle through my other ones regularly, but when it really comes down to what matters, for example the recording we’re currently doing, it’s my trusty King Zephyr that will get the gig each time.
If my Handcraft weren’t such a bitch in ergos dep’t, I’d be playing it more as well. It’s gone head to head with my friend’s Committee III, and my Handcraft wins in the tone and sound department every time. Of course the Committee III naturally wins in the ergonomics.
