I just purchased an 8” bell Holton Revelation clearly from the 1920’s or 1930’s. One of the previous owners added a silver plate next to the thumb brace, which covers the serial number. I can’t find another SN anywhere on the slide handbrace, the outer slide or even on the water key. Doubtful, but does any Holton affectionato have any other way of narrowing the years of manufacture? Were the 8” bell models (which were very large back in the day) made in a specific year maybe? The replating job is done well enough, but it sadly covered over every marking on the horn except the bell scroll.

Thanks for any advise.

Try comparing to catalogs here:

<LINK_TEXT text="https://saxophone.org/museum/publicatio ... acturer/54">https://saxophone.org/museum/publications/museumType/1/manufacturer/54</LINK_TEXT>

also go to https://horn-u-copia.net and look at pictures of bell engravings to match style to period. You don't have to just stick to trombones; usually engravings were pretty consistent across product lines.

Thank you, Jacob. Excellent information provided. My questions are answered.