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Is Pan American just another name for Conn?

Z-Tuba Dude wrote:Is Pan American just another name for Conn?

I've always thought that 'Pan American' was just an instrument line produced by Conn.

Pan American was a subsidiary of Conn created in 1917 to market specifically to schools. Here's a link to some more information.

http://www.usd.edu/~mbanks/CONN12.html#depress

Weren't they made from recycled airplane parts?

Weren't they made from recycled airplane parts?

Lew wrote:Pan American was a subsidiary of Conn created in 1917 to market specifically to schools. Here's a link to some more information.

http://www.usd.edu/~mbanks/CONN12.html#depress

Hmmm.... I had a Conn Pan American Eb sousa. The serial number dated it to 1904.

TubaTinker wrote:Hmmm.... I had a Conn Pan American Eb sousa. The serial number dated it to 1904.

Where did you find the information on Pan Am serial numbers, Dan? They're different from the main line Conn stuff.

Just like Grand Rapids Band Instrument and York--same factory, different serial numbering system.

Here is some information I found on Pan American instruments:

Pan American was a student line of instruments made by Conn. I believe they had a different serial numbering sequence than main line Conn instruments, but the records were destroyed in a fire. The Pan American lines were of lesser quality than Conn's main lines. They were often sold by other companies (e.g., Sears and others) with the retailer's own brand on them.
source: oriscus.com

I have one that dates to 1971 according to the Conn serial number list, but the tuba is definitely "low pitch". I've compared it with pictures of Conn tubas made in the mid-twenties. There are some real similarities in the overall design, but not the engraving and bow guards. This fits with the student line information.

Normal wrote:Here is some information I found on Pan American instruments:

Pan American was a student line of instruments made by Conn. I believe they had a different serial numbering sequence than main line Conn instruments, but the records were destroyed in a fire. The Pan American lines were of lesser quality than Conn's main lines. They were often sold by other companies (e.g., Sears and others) with the retailer's own brand on them.
source: oriscus.com

In the case of tubas, often the Pan American is often a bit plainer (brass instead of nickel, etc.) but is basically the same instrument as the Conn modell. Pan Americans are not necessarily inferior to the Conn-labeled line, just the plain sisters of the beauty queens. On smaller instruments, often the finish was nickel plate instead of silver.

Models numbers are a bit harder to pin down--I'm not sure if Conn had a rigorous system for PA''s .
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Chuck(G) wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:Hmmm.... I had a Conn Pan American Eb sousa. The serial number dated it to 1904.

Where did you find the information on Pan Am serial numbers, Dan? They're different from the main line Conn stuff.

Just like Grand Rapids Band Instrument and York--same factory, different serial numbering system.

Hi Chuck! The sousa I had (in fact I just sold it a couple of weeks ago) had fairly ornate engraving including the words 'Conn Pan American', a gold-washed 26" bell, and a satin silver finish. I just assumed since it was marked 'Conn' that the 'Conn' serial number lists applied.