Saxophones Can you tell what it is yet? New purchase...

[Melissa]

Hi, I am updating this thread because I need all the VSG's (Vintage Sax Gurus) to see if they can actually identify the sax. This being the Chas E Foote Super Ref alto which @DavidUK luckily spotted, and I am now the lucky owner🙂 (Thanks again)

Firstly, although the sax has Made in Paris across the bell, why is this as opposed to Made in France? It has been put forward that this is not a French design but possibly German or Czech. However, after days on this I am still thinking that this really could be french made, it has traits of the early french saxes, very similar to some made by Dolnet,Sml, Pierret engraved scrolling to the bell flange like the Henri Selmer model 22/26 and so forth, the bell brace to bell also looks french, the wire key guards could also be considered french due to the bumper casing on the bridge and not on the cup, but they also look almost identical to that of Kohlert and other German/Czech saxes due their mounts being diamond in shape.

Also notice the unusual G# trill mechanism and the oil pump type secondary octave key which is the first I have come across. Microtuner neck is quite slim and operates very smoothly oh, and it has rolled tone holes too. The T pad at first could be considered from upper and eastern Europe, but this also looks like some of the early french sax designs but that top octave lever, what a strange shape!

The pearl mounts appear to be added like a basin or plateau on top of the keys, unfortunately at the moment it does not play, looks like one of the poor tech jobs I have come across as the pads hit the edge of the tone holes, so they do not close like they ought to.

This really would help me in my quest in identifying vintage saxes and would also take the guesswork out of some of these stencils which are usually as good as the original.

Please let's keep it civilised and on subject 😀

I have uploaded the photos to jpegbay only I seem to be the only one having issues using the cafe' system.😳

http://jpegbay.com/gallery/004575344-.html#1

 

[Colin the Bear]

Could be another place called Paris? There's a place in Japan called Scotland. They make Whisky. Made in Scotland.

A quick google turned up 2 in Canada, 16 in USA, 1 in Panama and 1 in Russia.

 

[kevgermany]

No idea. Seeing these pics, I don't think it's CZ or German. Have you tried Helen at basic sax? I think she'd be very interested in this.

 

[Melissa]

Could be another place called Paris? There's a place in Japan called Scotland. They make Whisky. Made in Scotland.

A quick google turned up 2 in Canada, 16 in USA, 1 in Panama and 1 in Russia.

That is a good point, and the US Paris could be a good lead.. this is very interesting!

No idea. Seeing these pics, I don't think it's CZ or German. Have you tried Helen at basic sax? I think she'd be very interested in this.

I believe @DavidUK has spoken to Helen about it and is another reason for adding the gallery so that they can be shared with her.

 

[Colin the Bear]

That is a good point, is there not a Paris in the US somewhere?

• Paris, Arkansas
• Paris, former name of Loraine, California
• Paris, Idaho
• Paris, Illinois
• Paris, Indiana
• Paris, Iowa
• Paris, Kentucky
• Paris, Maine
• Paris, Michigan
• Paris, Mississippi
• Paris, Missouri
• Paris, New York
• Paris, Ohio
• Paris, Oregon
• Paris, Pennsylvania
• Paris, Tennessee
• Paris, Texas
• Paris, Virginia

 

[DavidUK]

I emailed Helen and alerted her to the other thread, here: http://cafesaxophone.com/threads/can-you-tell-what-it-is-yet-new-purchase.16763/

You might want a mod to move your post and those which follow to that thread Melissa?

No answer from Helen after two and a bit weeks, so maybe send her another email and a link to whichever thread? She's usually good at replying on strange horns. May be away perhaps?

 

[ProfJames]

There was a Foote sax for sale on eBay not long ago. Is this the same one?

 

[aldevis]

Is Foote's the shop in Soho that moved a couple of years ago?

 

[Melissa]

Yes it is Footes in London, still going strong but I do not think they sell woodwind any longer?

 

[kevgermany]

No answer from Helen after two and a bit weeks, so maybe send her another email and a link to whichever thread? She's usually good at replying on strange horns. May be away perhaps?

I know from her blog that she's been ill.

 

[aldevis]

Yes it is Footes in London, still going strong but I do not think they sell woodwind any longer?

They don't (and they moved recently), but Mr. Garnett might know where they used to buy their horns from.

 

[Melissa]

Any gurus available! @milandro @kevgermany I have managed to find one which also has that odd octave mechanism, Guenot.
This also has a similar pinkie table :René Guénot Bass Saxophone
Although the Adolphe Sax also has a similar pinkie table: http://thesax.info/piwigo/index.php?/category/533
Paul Beuscher has the same text and also Paris in the same manner on the bell: LUTHIER VENTS: février 2014
Even this old SML has very similar traits! :LUTHIER VENTS: septembre 2013

But I still have not found one which gives a 100% conclusion, it is that G# trill.

 

[kevgermany]

I like the Guénot suggestion.

 

[Melissa]

I like the Guénot suggestion.

That does seem the closest yet, sorry, I cannot use my keyboard to make the accent mark, computer sais no 🙁

 

[DavidUK]

I emailed Footes right at the beginning - they came back immediately... No info.

 

[DavidUK]

@Melissa look at your Luthier link, then down the right side at Guénot. Click the link and look at the last photo. The bow joint and scroll work looks similar to your Foote? Have a closer look and also find other Guénot examples?

 

[Melissa]

@Melissa look at your Luthier link, then down the right side at Guénot. Click the link and look at the last photo. The bow joint and scroll work looks similar to your Foote? Have a closer look and also find other Guénot examples?

I agree, in #54, I noticed the same pinkie table and ocatve mechanism on their saxes too, I had also wondered if the Tenor that is on the ebay be from the same makers, though have not looked at that, if only I could find a Guénot with the G# trill, that would pretty much make it 1005 certain, though it has to have the rolled tone holes too.

The only other option is to locate and buy one loool! Now would I?!

 

[DavidUK]

@Melissa look at your Luthier link, then down the right side at Guénot. Click the link and look at the last photo. The bow joint and scroll work looks similar to your Foote? Have a closer look and also find other Guénot examples?

Having looked at the bow joints more closely, the scrolls are square, not round as in your Foote...
This is the Luthier one...

Here's another Guénot from the dropbox link in post #9 here: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showth...chet-amp-Cie-Successeurs-90-Rue-Rebeval-Paris

 

[DavidUK]

And here's the Foote's joint...

 

[Melissa]

Yes they are and that tenor on ebay has the same squares so it is very interesting, I had been through many on the Luthier site though it is a shame as some photos could do with being hi res, great site though, I hope it does not dissappear like half of those on the saxpics site.