Selmer Reference 54 Tenor Saxophone and a Massive 43” Antique Buddy L Outdoor Locomotive & Tender from the 1920s
by Jessica Kosinski
$3,051 (Bids 100, Bidders 21) Selmer Reference 54 Tenor Saxophone Bb w/ Case. Plays Beautifully with no leaks top to bottom (checked with leak light). Sounds like my old Selmer Mark VI. Beautiful Raw Brass Finish. Great resonance. Professional model horn, no dents or scratches. Player horn. (Photos: eBay seller machuck-0)
JK: This Selmer saxophone, although technically not antique, is definitely collectible. It also has strong ties to the history of saxophones, which is probably what helped it catch the attention of so many bidders. That said, the Reference series was produced between 2000 and the early 2020s. The seller doesn’t mention the specific age of this one, but the serial number “N 7705324” is mentioned. That serial number falls in the range of saxophones produced by the company between 2014 and 2015.
Henri Selmer, a clarinetist, founded the company in Paris in 1885. His focus at the time
was on producing woodwind instruments. In the early 1900s, there was a shift in musical preferences. Classical and jazz music both began to heavily feature saxophones, and he saw a chance to expand his business by producing those as well. After World War I, the company started to become famous specifically for its saxophones.
The Mark VI, mentioned by the seller as sounding similar to this Reference 54, was introduced by Selmer in 1954. It is widely thought of as one of the most preferred saxophones in history by musicians today. The Reference 54 is essentially the company’s love letter to the Mark VI. It incorporates some of the best features of the Mark VI with modern advancements. The result is a heavier saxophone but one with sturdier keys, better intonation, and other improvements that surely drew some musicians looking for high-quality instruments to this auction.
Another interesting feature of the Reference 54 is the unique lacquer applied to it. The lacquer application process is meant to give the sax a vintage look. It’s another fun nod to the Mark VI. It also feels like a nod to the early days of saxophones, in general. Anyone looking for the appeal of an antique look with all the features of a modern instrument would love this, which also helps explain why it reached 100 bids.
$1,709 (Bids 63, Bidders 16) Massive 43” Antique Buddy L Outdoor Locomotive & Tender 1920s (SPECTACULAR!). Extraordinary condition. 100% original with no touch ups or repairs. Everything works as it should. Super heavy duty pressed steel construction. Impressive 43” display piece. Truly a 100 year old time capsule. Fine investment
quality toy for the discriminating collector. Use photos for most accurate description. (Photos: eBay seller oldfarmhousetreasures47)
JK: The seller seems to have taken a “let the pictures speak for themselves” approach to this listing, mentioning very little about Buddy L or the specific train. Let me elaborate because both are worth diving into.
As many toy collectors already know, Buddy L is one of the most famous lines of American antique toys ever produced. Fred A. Lundahl created Buddy L toys from his factory in East Moline, Illinois. His first toys were released in 1921. They were named after his son and they were known for their heavy-duty construction. They could really stand up to wear and tear, which is why many have survived to the present day and one reason why they are so popular even now. In fact, my own mother’s boyfriend collects them, so I have more than just a passing familiarity with them. My eyes lit up when I saw this one.
This model is a fantastic example of a Buddy L outdoor train. The first Buddy L outdoor train model came out in 1927. By toy standards, these were huge. Today, they are definitely considered more like works of art to admire and display than toys.
When they were originally produced, it was with the idea that kids would actually play with them. They had to stand up to not just the abuse of children, but also the elements they would be exposed to outside. Their pressed steel construction made them definitely up to the challenge. However, the details worked into each design are what made them attractive to kids and parents alike. Many of them had features like headlights, working side rods, and cowcatchers. They were also different from the electric trains of the time because they were designed to be push-powered.
The issue with the outdoor railroad is it was expensive. At the time, buyers could expect to pay around $75 for a six-car train set. That was a massive amount in the 1920s. That’s why, even though the company produced multiple cars, bridges, track sections, and other accessories to go with the outdoor train line, it only did so for a few years. The relatively short run makes these fairly scarce today, even though they were built to last.
There are certainly collectors around who would snap up any Buddy L train just because it was a Buddy L train, but this one definitely got some extra special attention. The reason is condition. Like many parents today, parents of kids who outgrew toys back then sometimes kept those toys as keepsakes. They were stored in attics, garages, or barns. Some were even kept outside for years or decades. That meant they survived, but they were not always in the best condition.
This seller somehow found an almost pristine example. It looks barely used. Not a single repair, replacement, or repainting job was done to it over the years. It also still runs perfectly. That’s astounding considering it was produced nearly 100 years ago.
Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance researcher and writer since 2001. She developed a passion for pre-1990s TV and films as a kid, and she has never grown out of it. Recently, she turned that passion into a retro TV and film blog. Follow along with her at medium.com/@jkos_writing, as she dives deep into the characters, actors, quirks, and trivia that brought us some of the greatest films and shows in TV history and also discusses some of the more obscure films and shows most of us may have forgotten.
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