Soprano saxophone, straight, high pitch
Makerby
Adolphe Sax
Date1861 ca.
Place MadeParis, France, Europe
Serial No.22627
SignedEngraved on bell: No 22627 / Saxophone Soprano en [Si] b breveté / Adolphe Sax á Paris / Fteur de la Mson Milre de l’Empereur This signature text has had replating or polishing over it which has decreased legibility of signature.
On adhesive label attached inside the case: DAVIS TRUNK FACTORY / SAMPLE CASE SPECIALIST / SINCE 1889 LOS ANGELESMarkingsUnderneath signature text on bell is Adolphe Sax monogramDescriptionNumber and types of sections: Two sections: Body with attached neck and body
Neck type: Straight, attached
Location of keys on bell from player’s perspective:
Split: Low B on front side of bell, low C# on back side of bell
Material: silver plated brass
Lacquer: yes, not original
This saxophone was restored and lacquered with clear lacquer by G. Leblanc Corp. for Cecil B. Leeson. Restoration of finish involved either replating the instrument with silver or extensive polishing, as the signature engraving is very shallow.
Range: (Written range) B3 – Eb6
Fingering System:
High F# key: none
Bis Bb key: none
Side Bb key: none
Forked F# key: none
Side C key: none
Rollers: none
Octave touchpiece(s): two
Alternate high F key: none
Touchpiece material: silver plated brass
Type of key mount: rods and posts soldered on, very few base plates
Type of thumbrest: silver plated brass
Lyre holder: yes, middle of instrument
Neckstrap attachment: none
Water key: none
Special items (G# trill key, split Eb key, etc.) and location: none
Patents:
This saxophone was created and built under the original saxophone patent, French patent #3226 (March 21, 1846) obtained by Adolphe Sax. DimensionsTotal height – 602 mm (23 11/16”)
Bell diameter – 82 mm (3 3/16”)
Length of bell’s flare from inside bell – 10 mm (3/8”)
Length of bell’s flare from outside bell – 10 mm (3/8”)
Circumference at top (a little above the neck aperture) – 63 mm (2 7/16”)
Circumference just over bell – 166 mm (6 ½”)
Neck height curved from above (curved neck – if separate) – not curved, not separate
Length of neck (straight) – (Not separated) 137 mm (5 3/8”)ProvenancePreviously 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. Published References“Four Original Adolph Sax Instruments Given to BSU,” The Muncie Star (March 17, 1974).
Malou Haine and Ignace de Keyser, Catalogue des Instruments Sax au Musée Instrumental de Bruxelles (Brussels: Musée Instrumental, 1980), p. 241.
Phillip T. Young, 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments (London: Tony Bingham, 1993), p. 202.
Robert S. Howe, “The Invention and Early Development of the Saxophone, 1840-1855,: Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society 29 (2003), p. 174.
Credit LineTransfer from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 1994
Object number05767
On View
Not on view
