This one just fell into my lap. It is dangerous to browse eBay. I was idly killing time when I came across an ad for a Selmer “Eb soprano”. I thought it was a typo, especially because listed was a Modèle 26 instrument, made in 1926. I had never seen a Selmer sopranino before the famous Mark VI; surely this must be a Bb soprano?
First to good old Google–nothing listed at all for a Selmer ‘nino prior to the six. Time to dig deeper. Luckily the seller had included good pictures, but without anything to indicate scale. Well, it could be a Bb soprano, but only keyed up to high Eb, whereas Selmer had gone to high F on sops with the introduction of the Modèle 26…More searching….now I wanted to find pictures of the 26 soprano for comparison. Hard to tell…could this be transitional? I did not want to hit the “Buy it Now” button and find out I made a horrible mistake…I don’t need another Bb soprano…
Finally what clinched it for me was the relative size of the pearls on the lower keys. On the 26 soprano there was much more keycup around the pearls. The size of pearls is pretty much fixed. On the pictures of the “Eb soprano”, the pearl touches almost covered the entire key. This must be a sopranino! But a Modèle 26 sopranino? I held my breath and hit “Buy it Now”.
Later I found one reference to a Balanced Action sopranino, labeled “exceptionally rare”. And eventually I was led by Pete at the Woodwind Forum to a link to one other known Modèle 26 sopranino, on offer in 2006. There must be others, but I can find no other reference anywhere. I have since learned that only 32 examples are known, and only ten listed in the Selmer archives.
The one I bought is a one-owner horn, exceptionally well cared-for. My friend and sax expert Randy Emerick says that the lacquer might not be original, because lacquer was generally not used on saxes until the early 1930’s. A catalog from 1930-31 does list the “Eb Soprano” in four finishes, including one lacquered, so perhaps it is original.
And it plays well as well! I am not much of a ‘nino player, but the intonation is good, and I am even getting to the top now with some regularity :~)
Here are some pictures of this beautiful little brass mosquito:
The horn is basically pristine–not a dent or a ding anywhere, although there is a strange thing: the back of the horn is straight, but the front, where the tone holes lie, flares outward. At first I thought this was a “banana bend” but now I believe it is the original shape. Either the horn came off the madrel this way, or it is an actual example of the mythical “parabolic cone” that Sax talked about. It exactly matches the shape that Jaap Kool described when talking about Sax’s parabolic bore.
Upper stack. No wear on the pearls at all–the horn has not seen much use it seems
Lower stack
Lower stack detail
Upper stack detail
Thumb key
LH pinky cluster
Selmer stamp
Bell
Mouthpiece
Even the case is in good shape!
2013/08/11 @ 21:46
how much do you want for the sopranino?
2013/08/11 @ 23:15
Hi Antonio–I’m not really thinking of selling it…
2013/08/12 @ 05:39
Thanks for the fine pictures.
A marvelous instrument.
You can feel so lucky. Take care of it.
2013/09/17 @ 19:10
Very nice instruement!
I own a brother of it: Sopranino Nr. 5518, nickel plated.
2013/09/18 @ 06:39
Thanks for writing Selmer Hunter. Do you know of others? I could only find mention of one other on the web. BTW I also am the proud owner of a 22 curved sop–a great horn!
2013/09/18 @ 17:13
I own a Selmer 1922 curved Soprano, too. And there exists 3-4 other model 22 and a few model 26 curved sorpanos. Very rare stuff…
2013/09/18 @ 17:15
…but I’ve heard of no other model 26 sopranino…
2013/09/19 @ 12:18
There is also at least one BA curved soprano and one BA sopranino. Looking closely at pictures of these two horns, I notice that they are exactly the same as the Model 22 curved and the Model 26 ‘nino–the only difference in both instruments is the addition of a pearl on the G# key and a pearl on the alt F#. Other than that, only the stamp on the bell is different. I’ll bet the 1922 curved sop is identical to my Model 22 curved. Legend is that the curved sop bodies were left over from A. Sax when Selmer bought the shop. They just keyed them and stamped them. I don’t know about the sopranino. I guess that they were developing the main family members, and until the Mk VI the sopranino was the same, with only the stamp of the current model in production.
2013/09/19 @ 12:32
Here’s some info: a Balanced Action sopranino is pictured here, with pearls on both G# and F#
http://www.saxophone.org/museum/saxophones/specimen/619
But here is a SBA ‘nino, with pearl only on the G#:
http://www.williampetit.com/sax-sopranino-selmer/sopranino.htm
I’m sure that they are exactly the same as the 26 ‘nino except for the pearl(s)
Here is one other 26 ‘nino:
http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/selmer/26/sopranino/gold/4935-sq-5000/
2014/02/21 @ 15:59
Hi thanks for your input.
I have a 26 and you are the only one that knows anything about it.
But mine is silver, not lackered but origional..
Could you tell me how much it is worth and if you give me a contact I will sen you a pic of my sax..
Thanks Nick
2014/02/21 @ 16:05
Hello again this is Nick
the model No is No 4522
How exciting.
2014/05/28 @ 23:34
Fantastic man! If you are interested to sale it, please tell me! I have a Buescher sopranino, I love extrem saxophones usually I play nino and bass saxophone. This 26 it’s so beautiful!
2014/09/05 @ 01:22
I’ve just found one of these in a house clearance please call me on 07980143712 if interested it needs a bit of work though many thanks
2015/01/31 @ 03:56
I saw that horn on ebay for $8,500.00. It’s a high price to pay for a toy.
2015/02/07 @ 10:58
I paid $2800. It is a seriously good ‘nino.
2015/05/14 @ 22:56
I Have still got the silver selmer 26 as mentioned in the above Note, if anyone is interested let me know..
2019/04/01 @ 09:38
I have a silver “sopranino” that only has markings on the bell which says Selmer New York. the serial number on back is 113579 low pitch. Can you tell me anything about it. It has a music stand holder just below the e flat key and only has 2 upper side keys and 2 right hand side keys if that helps. Thanks for any info you may have!!
2019/04/01 @ 15:56
Selmer New York horns are stencils of either Conn or Buescher saxes. In any case this is a very rare horn and worth some money if it is in good shape. Here is a link to a Buescher True Tone nino:
https://reverb.com/item/2429823-buescher-straight-sopranino-saxophone-in-high-eb-nice
Does that look like yours in terms of keywork?
BTW my email is toby@toby-marshall.com
2020/03/02 @ 01:44
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
2020/03/06 @ 12:26
I know that when the galleries have numerous photos they may take some time to load with slow internet connections, and until fully loaded the galleries do not work properly. Generally with a decent connection it is not a problem, but when the connection is slow it can be frustrating.