(1927 to 1975) After several trips to Paris and several thousand hours of research and study, the original shipping data was collected and organized. The first phase of the research was to study the records from the beginning up to the end of the Mark VI era. Whether earlier notebooks were lost or were never kept is unfortunately unknown. The data started at serial #5000 and continued for over 75 years.

In most cases, there was no mention of what model was being produced. The archive records contain four key elements:

But, the fact that all the data still existed was like finding a treasure. Some were neat and detailed and others were nearly illegible and of course, it is all written in French. The archives are comprised of a series of very old and fragile notebooks, written by a variety of people, in a variety of handwriting styles. Once there, the daunting nature of the task became apparent. With a background in statistical analysis and an established record in the study of Selmer history, Douglas was able to secure access to these archives. It is well known that Selmer Paris possesses some archival records but they are not available to the public. Douglas Pipher decided to take on the challenge.Ĭlearly the first step was to collect as much primary data as possible. Was the chart built from specific data or was it just someone’s estimate a guess which eventually became assumed to be an absolute truth? With these questions in mind, the need for a fresh look became clear, to see if there was a way to measure the accuracy, or inaccuracy, of the existing chart. It also seems unlikely that each year’s production ended at a conveniently round number. It seems unlikely that every new model was introduced exactly at the beginning of a new year. But there are problems with the existing chart, such as the timing of the introduction of the different models. Many saxophonists use it as the authority for determining when an instrument was made.

The existing Selmer Serial Number Chart has been available on the internet for years.

Selmer paris saxophone serial number chart Selmer Serial Numbers – a Fresh Approach

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