Cg conn tenor sax serial numbers m237208 full#
Conn was unique among American manufacturers in that a full time laboratory with a staff of six was maintained to pursue design improvements. During this period, Conn saxophones were often seen with spectacular engravings, and considerable experimentation was carried out in manufacturing techniques and design improvements. The straight neck C Melody also made its debut in this year. The 1922 catalog saw the re-introduction of the straight B flat soprano and the Conn Vacuum pad, which was designed to be installed without adhesives. Rolled tone holes were introduced around 1920, although straight tone holes were often found for a few more years. Haynes, the flutemaker, and licensed to Conn. The drawn tone holes are referenced by a patent engraved on the body tube (1,119,954 December 8, 1914) which was actually held by William S. These horns are referred to by Conn as “New Wonder” models, Conn saxophones of this era were seen with both soldered and drawn tone holes. This catalog also makes mention of the Conn Microtuner and the Conn Resopad, both hailed as significant advances. In an effort to increase international sales during this period, Conn offered saxophones in both Low Pitch (A=440), and in High Pitch (A=457).īy 1916, Conn was advertising that “the saxophone department has been quadrupled in size”, and the 1918 catalog references the introduction of a straight soprano in E flat and a straight soprano in C. The 1915 horns were referred to as “New Invention” models, and were awarded the Medal of Honor a gold medal a silver medal and a bronze medal at the Panama-Pacific Exhibition held in San Francisco. A 1915 advertisement references an “improved” octave mechanism a front F key a G sharp trill key a lengthened G sharp key, and a revised arrangement of the left hand pinky table. Only the alto and tenor models were keyed to high F, the rest of the line was limited to high E flat. The ad mentioned an automatic octave key (actually introduced some time earlier) and a forked E flat mechanism. In 1911, Conn advertised a family of saxophones that included a curved soprano (which replaced the previous straight model) a C Melody and a bass, in addition to the standard alto, tenor, and baritone models.
Conn (April 2, 1918) and Victor New Wonder (October 15, 1918). These included Wonder (February 1, 1891) New Wonder (May 1, 1917) Pan American (January 29, 1918) American First (February 5, 1918) C. As a result, military orders for Conn instruments boomed, and in May, 1900, 150 Conn “Wonder” saxophones were delivered to the Army, and were received at the Schuylkill Arsenal by Louis Seel.ĭuring this era, Conn began trade-marking names that designated various models. Conn, the founder and owner of the company, was elected to the United States Congress in 1892, and introduced a bill which required that every United States Army regiment have its own band, and specified the instrumentation for the musical unit. These instruments were available in silver plate with gold plated keys nickel plate and polished brass.Ĭ. The instrument that Buescher built for Lefebre was essentially a copy of an Adolphe Sax horn, and Lefebre was eventually persuaded to join the Conn company, where he was employed in the saxophone department from 1895 until 1906.Ĭonn exhibited alto and tenor models at the 1893 World’s Columbia Exhibition under the model name “Wonder”, and in 1894 advertised a line of “Improved System” saxophones which included straight soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone models. The original Conn saxophone was actually constructed by Ferdinand “Gus” Buescher, who was foreman at the Conn factory and who was employed by Conn from 1875 until 1895, at which time he established an instrument manufacturing company bearing his name. Lefebre was also a personal friend of none other than Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, and had previously used instruments supplied to him by Sax himself.
Lefebre, a saxophone virtuoso who had risen to international fame as a soloist with the famous Sousa and Gilmore bands of that era. The very first saxophone built in the United States was built at the Conn plant in Elkhart, Indiana, in 1889 for E.
As a tribute to the quality of construction and design, vintage Conn saxophones are often seen today in the hands of top professionals as the “instrument of choice”, and many of the innovations first pioneered by the Conn company are found on instruments produced today by manufacturers around the world. ‘CONN SAXOPHONES: A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATIONįor over one hundred years, the name Conn has meant the very finest in American-made saxophones. The legendary models of the earlier part of the twentieth century are among the most prized and sought after among collectors and performers alike.