Tenor saxophone, nominal pitch: B♭

Henri Selmer

Photo by Digital Imaging Unit © The University of Edinburgh

Instrument

Tenor saxophone

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Henri Selmer

Place Made

Western Europe; Europe; Paris; France

Date Made

Circa 1930

Description

Technical description: Curved body and crook (silver-plated); mouthpiece of ebonite with nickel-plated ligature and cap. Fitting for music card-holder. Instead of a separate side B♭ keyhead and tone-hole, the touchpiece for R1 opens the B♭ tone-hole on the front of the instrument. Rollers between B and C♯ keys for L4, and between C and E♭ keys for R4. L0: Automatic octave keys. L1: B₄; bis key (B♭₄); D₆; E♭₆; F₆. L2: A₄. L3: G₄. L4: Articulated G♯₄; C♯₄; B₃; B♭₃. R1: F₄; B♭₄; C₅; E₆. R2: E₄. R3: D₄; F♯₄. R4: E♭₄; C₄. Keymount type: pillars mounted on plates. Keyhead type: modern. Serial number: 2756. Overall size: 850 (including mouthpiece); bell diameter 151. Sounding length: 1410 (without mouthpiece). Bore: 11.3 at top of crook. Inscription: on side of bell "H. Selmer" in stylised script / 4 PLACE DANCOURT / PARIS / FRANCE", also "H. SELMER / A / PARIS" within oval surmounted by lyre / monogram HS / "Modele 22 / No. 2756"; mouthpiece inscribed "Selmer" in wreath / "PARIS / Soloist / C*.". Decorative features: mother-of-pearl buttons; bands of rope pattern on ferrules and on mouthpiece. With fitted wooden case covered in black artificial leather, with label inside: "Lafleur & Son ... London". Repair History: Screw missing from fitting for music card-holder; reed cap does not fit (probably made for an alto). Usable pitch: Plays at A₄ = c 435 Hz.

Notes

G. Melville-Mason, Jul 1982; N. Parks, 26.10.96, July 1987; R. Parks, 15.6.96. Melanie Piddocke, 11.12.10.

Measurements

850 (including mouthpiece); bell diameter 151.

Provenance

Purchased in 1983 with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund and the University's General Council Trust.

Collection

Glen Collection; MIMEd

Accession Number

0174