Hi Sarrusophone folks!

I've just joined this group after retrieving a Conn contrabass
Sarrusophone from my very cold attic as a potentially preliminary
step toward getting in in playable condition. I bought this
instrument many years ago with this intent but never "got 'round
to it". Now retired, I am considering the possibility.

The first thing I wanted to find out was it's date of manufacture. I
just spent 30 minutes inspecting it carefully and COULDN'T
FIND A SERIAL NUMBER. The serial numbers on my Conn
C-Melody, Baritone and Bass Saxes are all easily found and
deeply stamped but for the life of me, I can't find one on the
Sarrusophone. I have done some research. In an article that
appeared in "The Double Reed, Vol. 8, No. 2" entitled "The
Sarrusophone" by Michel Jolivet and Robert Richart, I found the
statement, "The only American manufacturer to produce
sarrusophones was Conn who made approximately two
hundred E- flat contrabasses from ca. 1914 to a short while after
1921 (patent December 8, 1914)."

Question #1 - I cannot find either a serial number or a patent
date. Can anyone out there with a Conn contra tell me where
these might be located?

Question #2 - I first found (and joined) another Yahoo
Sarrusophone group named "Sarrusophone2" which appears to
be defunct. I posted this question there but have recieved no
response(s). Waht's the history and "poop" on this "other"
group? Seems strange to have two groups devoted to this rather
obscure instrument.

Jack Jennings in Sicklervile, NJ