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Gents,

Recently I came across a Conn fitted with a bell with some puzzling engravings .
What could be the meaning of " USMC " , just below the lady face? Was this an instrument of the army (?Military Corps?) ? It certainly looks battered. The owner takes the number on the bell (391232) for a serial number of his instrument, probably a 38K. This would take it to the early fifties, long after the production of 38K had stopped. I guess the number is not the sn, but then, what does it mean? Generally the bell does not have a number on it.
Any connaisseur over there?

Dutch

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U.S.M.C. stands for United State Marine Corps. It looks like this horn used to belong to the U.S. Marine Corps Band.

I've also seen sousaphones have the bell/body marked with the same number to ensure that the instrument pieces were never separated (switching bells *can* make a difference).

Since the original question was solved, I also wonder... what's the story behind the "naked lady" engraving/series of Conn instruments? I think they need to bring that back.

I too would like to know the story behind the lady engraving I have a 1953 Conn 26k Eb sousaphone ex Marine Corps as well. I have often wondered but never looked into it. I had thought it strange for such a conservative business to have adopted such a racy image as if I squint and imagine enough there a little hint of nipple on my one.
Where they all free hand engraved or stenciled?

Dutch wrote:....The owner takes the number on the bell (391232) for a serial number of his instrument....

If that's the serial number of the horn... and the bell is with the correct body... that same number should appear on the 2nd valve casing of the horn. If the numbers don't match... then either the bell does not belong with that body or perhaps that is a number that the military purchasing folks assigned to the horn.

Those 'naked lady' engravings run from 'mild' to 'wild' depending on the mental state of the engraver. Those engravings were done by hand.