Alto saxophone, E-flat, low pitch
Date1930 ca.
Place MadeCleveland, Ohio, United States, North America
ModelTom Brown Professional
Serial No.425
SignedEngraved on bell: Tom Brown / PROFESSIONAL / MADE IN / CLEVELANDMarkingsArt-deco geometric design engraved on bell around signature textStamped on lower back side: B / 425
Stamped on low part of neck near body receiver: B 425DescriptionNumber and types of sections: Two sections: Neck and body with attached bell
Location of keys on bell from player’s perspective:
Split: Low C# and low Bb on right side of bell, low B on left side of bell
Material: gold-plated brass, burnished throughout
Lacquer: none
Range: (Written range) Bb3 – F6
Fingering System:
High F# key: none
Bis Bb key: yes
Side Bb key: yes
Forked F# key: yes
Side C key: yes
Rollers: yes, black synthetic, on low C/Eb and on low C#/low B
Octave touchpiece(s): two
Alternate high F key: yes
Touchpiece material: mother-of-pearl, inlaid
Type of key mount: rods and posts soldered on
Type of thumbrest: gold-plated, slightly tilted
Lyre holder: yes
Neckstrap attachment: yes
Water key: none
Special items (G# trill key, split Eb key, etc.) and location:
Alternate G# trill key in right hand
G# vent hole on middle back side of body
Split Eb key on lower back side of body
Patents: drawn tone holes (US #1119954)
According to H. McLaren Boyd, 1/2013 (unconventional measurements):
Total height straight line – 640 mm (25 1/8”)
Total height curve from above from neck to bottom – 763 mm (30”)
Total height of body straight line – 549 mm (21 5/8”)
Bell diameter – 117 mm (4 9/16”)
Height of bottom to bottom of bell – 261 mm (10 ¼”)
Height of bottom to top of bell – 327 mm (12 7/8”)
Length of neck straight line – 157 mm (6 1/8”)
Length of neck curve from above – 223 mm (8 ¾”)
Length of bell’s flare from inside bell – 15 mm (9/16”)
Length of bell’s flare from outside bell – 14 mm (½”)
Width of bottom straight line, from key guard but not including key guard –
123 mm (4 13/16”)
Width of outside of bottom bow, from ferrule to ferrule – 244 mm (9 9/16”)DimensionsApproximately sounding length: 1040 mm
Bell diameter: 118 mmProvenancePreviously a part of the Dr. Hewitt A. Waggener Collection (Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.). Later transferred to Cecil B. Leeson Collection, Muncie, Indiana. U.S.A.
Credit LineTransfer from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 1994
Object number05740
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