Bass saxophone, B-flat
Maker
Adolphe Sax
Date1876-1877 ca.
Place MadeParis, France, Europe
Serial No.39789
SignedEngraved on bell: (script) No 39789 / Saxophone Basse en Si b. / Adolphe Sax Fr Brevté / 50, rue St Georges / [*see note below]
Paris / SEUL / GRAND PRIX / 1867 [**see note below] / AS (monogram) PARIS (inserted in "S")* stamped, upside down, within the engraving, before the words, Paris: A I S 801
** the 1867 date is barely distinguishable, having been almost totally rubbed out
Markings[monogram with letters C and V superimposed over each other, not seen on any other Sax instruments; Haine believes it to be from an owner of the instrument, added post-manufacture – this is supported by the fact that the depth of its engraving does not match that of the rest of the engravings on this instrument]
DescriptionOne piece body with separate neck. Silver-plated brass. Fingered range: low B-natural to high Eb. Dual octave keys. Side Bb only – no bis-Bb key or automated 1:1 Bb fingering combination. The Bb key tone hole is located on the back side of the instrument near the octave keys/LH thumbrest. No side C, forked Eb, alternate F# or G# trill keys. Eb/low C keys as well as G#/low C#/low B keys are “button” style and without touchpieces or rollers. Soldered toneholes.
Dimensions(provided by Tony Bingham)
Height: 1150 mm
Bell diameter: 197 mm
ProvenancePurchased from Tony Bingham, London, 1999.
Published ReferencesBanks, Margaret Downie. “A Rare Bass Saxophone by Adolphe Sax.” _America’s Shrine to Music Museum Newsletter_ 27, No. 4 (November 2000): 5.
---------. "The Bass Saxophone by Adolphe Sax." _The South Dakota Musician_ 35, No. 3 (Spring 2001): cover and p. 24.
Howe, Robert S. “The Invention and Early Development of the Saxophone, 1840-1855.” _Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society_ 29 (2003): 177.
Credit LineBoard of Trustees, 1999
Object number07457
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