Most music stores would have no idea what it's really worth. Most don't even do their own repairs; they send them out. They usually try to sell you a new Selmer or Yamaha, or some cheap student model Taiwanese horn rather than repair an instrument that's more than 10 years old. Silver was the most common finish on these horns. Most were satin silver with a gold washed bell. The silver is fairly easy to clean. Tarn-X does a good job, but it is an acid and needs to be rinsed off with warm water. Water can damage the pads, so I wouldn't recommend cleaning with Tarn-X unless you intend to replace the pads also. The ideal way to clean the horn would be to remove the keys, and then use a tooth brush or a small paint brush to get into the nooks and crannies. If you had the instrument repadded, I would ask the repair tech if you can come and pick up the horn once they have removed all the keys to clean and polish both the body and the keys. Wrights silver cream is a great polish. I have restored many horns like yours. The silver is beautiful when it's cleaned and polished and attracts a lot of attention. The silver finish also gives the horn a brighter, warmer sound than lacquer. Your saxophone was made in 1928, which was one of the best years for that particular model. The average price for such a horn in playable condition is $2000. They are quite valuable and favored by many collectors. As long as the action is free and not damaged, and there is no damage to the body or the tone holes, the saxophone shouldn't cost too much to have repaired. New pads and corks usually run about $375-$400 installed.

sgtmary, I can do the repairs and HAND polishing for you as my shop specializes in the vintage horns. very reasonable. Doc [email protected]