Uploaded August 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
When Leslie first produced their SUPERtyfon horns in 1951, the chords offered were very different from the Leslie chords of today. Many people know of the S3J and S5D, but there were two other chords offered as well that were never produced as far as evidence can tell. See this 1951 advertisement here:
horn-whistle-board.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=545&p=2660
The S3E would have used bells 247, 311, and 370. The 311 is equivalent to the modern day 31, and the 370 to the modern day 37. A modern 25 can be shimmed down to lengthen the bell to get it to play the same as a 247. For this video I took my bronze tab S3L and modified temporarily it to make this S3E replica.
The S5A used bells 247, 277, 311, 370, and 440. Of those, the modern day 31, 37, and 44 work, and the only other things that are needed is a shimmed 25 and a 277. I started with my S5T and added a 277 bell and shims. Since I don't have five bronze tab chambers, I used the round backs from the S5T instead.
The S3E and S5A were offered, but as far as evidence can tell, never produced. There are many surviving examples of S3J's. There are two surviving examples of S5D's that I know of. However, there have never been any examples found of an S3E or an S5A. There have been many replicas made by people over the years. Additionally, no S3E or S5A tags have ever been found, nor have ANY 247 bells surfaced. After the switch from three digit bells to two digit bells in 1952, many 277 bells were remarked and sold as 25 bells. My 277 is one of these. However, no remarked 247 bells have been found. All told, it would appear that the S3E and S5A were never produced, despite what some may claim. My evidence biased opinion is that they were not. I would love to see proof otherwise however.
When Leslie first produced their SUPERtyfon horns in 1951, the chords offered were very different from the Leslie chords of today. Many people know of the S3J and S5D, but there were two other chords offered as well that were never produced as far as evidence can tell. See this 1951 advertisement here:
horn-whistle-board.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=545&p=2660
The S3E would have used bells 247, 311, and 370. The 311 is equivalent to the modern day 31, and the 370 to the modern day 37. A modern 25 can be shimmed down to lengthen the bell to get it to play the same as a 247. For this video I took my bronze tab S3L and modified temporarily it to make this S3E replica.
The S5A used bells 247, 277, 311, 370, and 440. Of those, the modern day 31, 37, and 44 work, and the only other things that are needed is a shimmed 25 and a 277. I started with my S5T and added a 277 bell and shims. Since I don't have five bronze tab chambers, I used the round backs from the S5T instead.
The S3E and S5A were offered, but as far as evidence can tell, never produced. There are many surviving examples of S3J's. There are two surviving examples of S5D's that I know of. However, there have never been any examples found of an S3E or an S5A. There have been many replicas made by people over the years. Additionally, no S3E or S5A tags have ever been found, nor have ANY 247 bells surfaced. After the switch from three digit bells to two digit bells in 1952, many 277 bells were remarked and sold as 25 bells. My 277 is one of these. However, no remarked 247 bells have been found. All told, it would appear that the S3E and S5A were never produced, despite what some may claim. My evidence biased opinion is that they were not. I would love to see proof otherwise however.
