The eldest son of John Henry Martin was Henry Charles Martin (b. Henry Charles Martin and the Martin Band Instrument Company Because of ill health, he retired from making instruments in 1902 and died on November 25, 1910. Some of these companies were The Michigan Musical Manufacturing Company of Detroit, Michigan and the early York Band Instrument Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During this period his employment was sporadic and he worked for other instrument manufacturers. In 1876 the family moved to Elkhart, Indiana, where John Henry became an employee of C.G. The family lost everything and was reunited three days after the fire when they met on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871 the original Martin factory was destroyed by the great Chicago fire. It is believed that Martin was the first maker of musical instruments in Chicago.

In 1855 he emigrated to the United States and followed his trade, first in New York by establishing 'The Martin Company' then during the later part of 1865 in Chicago. He learned to make instruments in the old way as an apprentice to the instrument maker Christian Hammig of Markneukirchen, Germany, from 1850–54, according to the archives of Musikinstrumenten-Museum. John Henry (Johann Heinrich) Martin was born February 24, 1835, in Dresden, Germany. Unused trademark of a publicly traded conglomerate Serial# 185xxx Low Pitch Neck is stamped with the number 1 Offered here is a nice looking professional model 1925 Buescher True Tone Alto Saxophone made in Elkhart. In fact, part of the third four is missing, and not by damage. The serial number on the back, underneath the thumbrest-44045-is slightly deeper but not very clear either. The engraving on the bell says 'Silvertone' and 'Made in Elkhart', and the designs etched around seem to be maybe a fleur-de-lis or foliage pattern and very superficial. More USED 'THE BUESCHER' TENOR SAX - TRUE TONE, LOW PITCH MODEL. Martin Imperial Tenor saxophone Elkhart- Indiana USA SN 3050XX age related wear but blows as beautiful as ever.

Elkhart saxophone serial number chart