royjohn

I'm not sure about this "the Committee replaced the [Handcraft] Imperial" as the top of the line instrument. I have read a post long ago somewhere indicating that for a time Martin continued to make both instruments as pro-line horns. I have a Handcraft Imperial, serial number 136,xxx, which dates it to about 1939-1940, depending on which serial number list you use, but that is certainly after the introduction of the Committee. Mine has had to have the leadpipe replaced with a similar vintage leadpipe, but I neglected to ask which model leadpipe it is. It has the Art Deco type pinky hook and a reversed tuning slide and the lion and some other very nice engraving on the bell. These features and the way it plays, about equal to my several vintage Holtons of the period (Llewellyn, #49, #51LB) lead me to believe it is a pro-line horn. There is also a "2" under the serial number and I'm told this means it's medium bore and that there was a small bore ["1"] and a large bore ["3"] model.