Model Evolution Timeline
by Steve Goodson DATES AND SERIAL NUMBERS ARE APPROXIMATE
| Year | Serial Number | Comments |
| 1905 | 5,000 | All records prior to 1905 lost to factory fire in 1903…..first automatic (single) octave key….Pearl button G#…..black rollers |
| 1914 | 22,860 | “Union Label” engraving introduced |
| 1916 | 28,875 | Gus Buescher sells company to investors |
| 1919 | 46,975 | Gus Buescher resigns as company president |
| 1921 | 78,525 | Snap On Pad patented |
| 1923 | 125,750 | Soprano G# hinge changed…..sopranino loses dedicated G# key touch |
| 1925 | 175,235 | Front F key becomes standard….G# key touch becomes rectangle |
| 1926 | 203,350 | Buescher merges with the Elkhart Band Instrument Company…..LH pinky cluster changes to four roller format |
| 1928 | 235,350 | Straight alto and tipped bell (Bb and C) sopranos introduced…..! |
| 1932 | 264,025 | New Aristocrat model….split bell keys |
| 1935 | 269,000 | Aristocrat model…..LH bell keys……G# key engraved “Buescher”……yellow rollers…..Norton springs |
| 1936 | 272,896 | Brown rollers appear…..five roller format for LH Pinky cluster……Elkhart brand used on student instruments……. |
| 1941 | 294,120 | “Big B” bell engraving…….ribbon style keyguards…… |
| 1942 | 297,527 | 400 model…..underslung neck….silver tone ring….top hat and cane engraving….brown rollers…..bell keys on right rear of the bell |
| 1950 | 332,000 | “Aristocrat” engraving….G# trill key dropped |
| 1955 | 350,000 | Super 400 model…..nickel resonance ring…..yellow rollers……nickel plated keywork …..standard 400 loses underslung neck….. |
| 1956 | 352,000 | Bell keys to RH side on rear of bell……nickel plated keywork |
| 1957 | 358,000 | nickel plated keywork on 400 |
| 1963 | 381,000 | Selmer USA buys Buescher |
| 1965 | 408,818 | 400 bell keys to left side of bell….underslung neck….. |
| 1976 | 638,000 | white rollers |
