Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) was a Belgium born woodwind and brass instrument maker who started his career working in his father’s workshop, where he demonstrated exceptional skills and craftsmanship. He was a noted inventor and player, with a great deal of literature surrounding his life, with much of it contradictory as he made many enemies throughout his life. Sax was notoriously litigious, and was known to produce his own versions of the ideas of others. Following this, many makers sued Sax, and for the remainder of his life he was involved in a number of litigations. The lawsuits bankrupted him twice – in 1856 and 1873, although he continued to press on with his work despite his financial difficulties. His two main inventions, the saxhorn and the saxophone, have become incredibly well used, both in military situations and as an embodiment of the spirit of ‘The Jazz Age.’
Saxhorn basse.
Euphonium.
4 valves.
Technical description: Brass; two loops for sling and fitting for music card holder. Valve type: 4 Berlin-type valves.
Overall size: 809; bell 229.
Sounding length: minimum 2662.
Bore: mouthpipe at c 31mm from mouthpiece receiver (minimum bore) 11.6; centre of 3 valve cluster at c 231mm from mouthpiece receiver, v.t.s. bore (1,2,3) 13.2; centre of 4th valve at c 446mm from mouthpiece receiver, v.t.s. bore (4,) 15.1; m.t.s. at c 676mm from mouthpiece receiver, tuning slide bore 15.4; m.t.s. at c 1011mm from mouthpiece receiver, tuning slide bore 19.2; at 1331mm from bell end, c 23.0; at c 961mm from bell end, 32.5.
B = 0.43.
Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 12.5 - 12.0
Inscribed on bell "No. 26222 / Adolphe Sax Breveté a Paris / Fteur de la Mson Milre de l'Empereur" and monogram AS with "PARIS" on stem of "S".