Alto saxophone. Nominal pitch: E♭.
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Photo by Dominic Ibbotson © The University of Edinburgh
InstrumentAlto saxophone |
Instrument FamilyWind |
MakerEvette & Schaeffer (Buffet Crampon) |
Place MadeWestern Europe; Europe; Paris; France |
Date Made1901 |
DescriptionTechnical description: Curved body and crook, brass (original finish appears to have been very thin silver-plating, with fittings and inside of bell lacquered gilt); mouthpiece of ebonite with silver-plated ligature. Rollers between B and C♯ keys for L4,and between C and E♭ keys for R4. The pad covering the low D tone-hole is compound: the larger circular pad has a hole in it which is covered by a smaller pad, to which is attached the main button for R3. There is also a small button attached to the left side of the larger pad. It seems likely that this arrangement was intended to provide an alternative E♭, by fingering written E plus the smaller R3 button. The low B♭ key on the bell is worked by a separate lever on the main body of the instrument instead of the more usual long rod. 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; side B♭₄; C₅; E₆. R2: E₄. R3: D₄; F♯₄. R4: E♭₄; C₄. Keymount type: pillars mounted on plates. Keyhead type: modern keyheads. Serial number: 14294. According to extracts from the firm's archives by W. McBride, 14294 was made in 1901. Overall size: 645 including mouthpiece; bell diameter 120. Sounding length: 985 without mouthpiece. Bore: 11.3 at top of crook. Inscription: on side of bell "BUFFET / Crampon & Cie / A PARIS" within oval surmounted by lyre, and monogram BC immediately below, also "Evette & Schaeffer / Incr Mon Buffet / Crampon & Cie / Brevetes s.g.d.g. / 18 & 20. Passage du Gd Serf / Paris / MADE IN FRANCE / 14294"; mouthpiece inscribed "PENNSYLVANIA" (= Selmer?). Decorative features: mother-of-pearl buttons. Playing accessories: with neck strap. With original shaped, fitted wooden case covered in black artificial leather. Repair History: Crook slightly creased. |
NotesG. Melville-Mason Jul 82; N. Parks, 26.10.96, Jul 87; R. Parks, 15.6.96. Melanie Piddocke, 11.12.10. |
Measurements645 including mouthpiece; bell diameter 120. |
ProvenancePurchased in 1983 with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund and the University's General Council Trust. |
CollectionGlen Collection; MIMEd |
Accession Number0173 |