In conducting my surveys for the Pan American band Instrument and case Company, including Cavalier to develop dating systems for the various types of band instruments, I have found that the use of the the term stencil is often confusing because of the current general usage. This usage and therefore definition goes back some years to time when not as much was known or published. In other words it was based on the best understanding at the time, but new information amkes its continued usage impracticable and often miss-leading. It's time for a review and maybe a new defintion and possibly some new terms or words for usage. One ground rule for this thread is opinions must be based on fact. Quoting opinions from other threads or other forums is not considered fact.

Facts come from observation and published documents, like trade journals, advertising and catalogs. Date references add to the veracity of the fact. 'I read somewhere or sometime ago' is the same as conjecture or opinion. While my comments will be oriented towards the C G Conn Ltd group of companies, particularly the Pan American years from 1917 to 1957, I would hope others with documented knowledge of other companies like Buescher, Martin, Holton, Coutierer, York etc and the imports will be able to aide in this endeavor. My perspective is mainly historical in nature and my view relates to the business and how it is organized. Products are a means for a business to achieve its economic goals. The marketing of those products and their market positioning is the principle basis that drives sales.

LYRIC is a trademark and brand of RUDOLPH WURLITZER COMPANY, THE. The USPTO has given the LYRIC trademark serial number of 71595434. USPTO for LYRIC is PIANOS, TRUMPETS, SAXOPHONES, CLARINETS, CORNETS,. Cornet: Wurlitzer: Lyric: 2034: Engraved The Lyric MADE BY Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. Chicago Cincinnati: 532: Helicon: Pourcelle: inscribed: HENRY POURCELLE, SUPERIOR, PARIS bell 19 1/2IN Pourcelle was a trade name for the Bruno Company The Bruno Company was established in New York in 1834 In 1868, the Company used C. Bruno and Son as its name.

Production efficiencies drive margins. The auto companies are a good examples of market positioning with brand names under one company. GM has lines under GM, Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet.

I have yet to hear of someone driving a GM stencil Buick. How many have Chrysler stenciled Dodges? How about a Lexus stenciled Toyota? Even better, who has a Kia stenciled Hyundai? In consumer electronics, who watched movies on their Matsushita stenciled VHS Panasonic, Technics, RCA or Zenith recorder? To open the discussion, a bit of history compiled for my Pan American survey is in order.

While I will tend to feature saxes, other instruments may be mentioned. 1915 - Col Conn sells to CD Greenleaf etal who forms CG Conn Ltd.

1916 - Buescher sells to Greenleaf etal. Kak praviljno namotatj drosselj. 1917 - The Names 'American First' and Pan American' are patented by CG Conn Ltd. Survey only found 'America First' sax models with 'P' prefix. Patent indicates usage from January 1917. 1917 - 1919 - Wurlitzer and Bruno private label or stencil saxes found by survey with CG Conn Ltd serial numbers equating to the time period. There are some visual differences to contemporary Conn models, but likeness to the future Pan American branded models.