Ken.
The DOLNET sax factory was established in 1885 and eventually bought out by Selmer in 1981. I did a lot of research on the various models such as the ROYAL JAZZ, BELAIRE which dated back in the 40s and 50's. The Jean Cartier series came in the mid 50's and and mid 60s. There is really no difference in the design and presentation in both AS and TS models with a the exception of the nickel plated keys and guards replaced the brass ones.
Your sax almost looks like mine but as an alto.
DOLNET Country of manufacture: France Production span: 1888-1994. Dolnet horns were produced in very small numbers by a small French workshop that specialized in saxes. Production of saxophones was no more than about 500 horns per year. Antique and Vintage Saxophones. I own a dolnet Alto sax from 1952. I believe it is an Alto but I can't find a serial number.
Free Software Serial Numbers
Lester Young and Don Byas both owned The BELAIRE TS models. I have been able to date mine to 1959 base on my serial number 72291C in comparison to a Baritone with almost the same sequence sold in Italy. I was also able to date this as well due to the label on my sax case listing the name of a music store called Brocksteins that closed in 1968. Earl Bronstein sold the company to HH MUSIC. In Houston and started the PROMARK Manufacturer for drumsticks.
This means that your AS is older than mine in about the same time frame as that of Lester Young's.
The sound quality is enormous. I am more than impressed especially when using a Vandoren V16 T7 mpc and a Rico Metalite M9 wide chamber. The DOLNET saxes are not that common in the US as in Europe.
Trust me on this. You have a jewel of a sax. It roars and with the M9 it turns into a paint peeler. But it also has a mellow sound when played softly. Even though at the time the high f# key was not a feature you can still hit the altissimo notes though harmonics with ease on the horn as long as the pads seal with no leaks.
Please never sell the horn. Enjoy. Its a treasure!
Thanks for writing!
Yanagisawa Sax Serial Numbers
Despite purchasing all of the assets of the Adolphe Sax Company in 1928, Selmer did not start selling saxophones bearing the Adolphe Sax name until 1931. The last Adolphe Sax saxophone recorded in the Selmer Paris archives was sold in 1944. Its likely that production of Adolphe Sax instruments ceased at the onset of WWII sometime after May of 1940. Any Adolphe Sax instrument sold after this date was most likely already made or assemble from pre-existing parts. For example, the record shows that all of the recorded Adolphe Sax instrument sales between 1940-1941 were from instruments already manufactued between 1931-36.
There is a fairly detailed record of these instruments recorded in a log book in the Selmer archives in Paris up to 1936 through serial number ~1364. The record is much less complete after 1936. Instruments manufactured after 1936 range in serial number from ~1350-3600. The log book shows the serial numbers jumping around quite a bit for the Selmer/Adolphe Sax saxophones. Even so, its possible from this record to assemble a basic serial number chart for these instruments. Some instruments were stamped H. Selmer and some were not. All were stamped Adolphe Sax 84 Rue Myrha. By comparing early verses later instruments, it becomes clear that some Adolphe Sax Selmer saxophones were assembled from the old Adolphe Sax tooling and other were put togther using parts and tooling from the Selmer St. Louis Gold Metal model instruments.