Grafton Octave Mechanism Atten: Pete and Griff

[saxismyaxe]

Pete,
do you still have that Grafton Alto? I have been gifted a Grafton which needed some repair work to the upper receiver/socket. I squared this away, however there was some slight damage to the octave mechanism, and it is not functioning properly. Other than the wire spring in the key lever itself, is there another spring on the arm (that closes the lower, body octave pip), or on the pip stack/hinge arm itself ?

This is one flimsy octave key design, I must say.

If either you or Griff could describe the action, or post some close up photos, I would very much appreciate it.

Cheers.

 

[saxismyaxe]

Nevermind, I've sorted it out. Apparently the fork on the extension arm was missing (I found a photo that illustrated the missing part). It works a charm now.

Cheers.

 

[Pete Thomas]

My grafton is currently in Stephen Howard's workshop, waiting for him to psych himself up enaough to venture onto it. Glad you got it sorted, not an easy horn to work on.

 

[griff136]

Glad you got it sorted - i was going to take some close up pics of a freinds grafton this morning!

 

[saxismyaxe]

First of all, many thanks to both of you, I appreciate it!

Actually this horn needed some body work around the molded neck socket that scared off many a tech (the top receiver was broken off of the body and missing, taking part of the F tone hole with it).
However I have (outside the instrument repair industry) knowledge of both industrial cement that will chemically weld/bond the acrylic exactly as it was assembled in the factory (including bonding splits, cracks, breaks etc.), and room curing, acrylic liquid plastic that duplicates (only utilizing superior strength in modern materials) the original plastic. The color and sheen is identical as well.

Not to boast, but I've managed to solve the issues that this material has plagued the average tech with for years. It CAN be repaired good as new structurally and cosmetically, both the ivory and clear parts!

I'm glad to say I was able to resurrect an abandoned horn back to it's former glory (if one describe a Grafton as such). 😉


Sommaruga's design had a lot to offer in retrospect. Had the Grafton company had at their disposal a few alternate materials available a few years later, and gone with another spring system, I think they would have had a winner.
The intonation on this alto is quite good, and the Altissimo is superb. Although the tone is indeed slightly different than it's brass cousins, it isn't at all unpleasant. Very warm and tender, with reduced upper partials to the tone, numbing somewhat the edge or "ring". It reminds me of a conventional Alto with a mute ring in the bell.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but nice none the less.

 

[rhysonsax]

Do you have any product names for the cement and the acrylic paste ?

At the moment my Grafton is fine, but that's mainly because I am scared to take it out of its case. I bought it in the mid 1980s, from an ad in Exchange & Mart that promised 3 Graftons. It turned out to be one almost playable, one in bits and one that was just a bag of keywork and pads. I don't regret buying them, but, like the previous owner I never got round to making anything of the bits and pieces and sold them on for next to nothing.

I heard that the Grafton tube design was that of a Buescher, and when it's well set up I think it can sound fine, although it feels and looks strange.

Even with modern plastics and different springs I'm not sure an updated Grafton would ever compete with Chinese-manufactured conventional instuments. Maybe something even more radical in terms of pads and keywork design would be needed, but just think of the difficulties of setting up and repair.

I used to fantasise about a sax with a clear plactic body, maybe even with lights running through it, but I think I'm all right now !

Rhys

 

[ken]

rhysonsax wrote:I used to fantasise about a sax with a clear plactic body, maybe even with lights running through it, but I think I'm all right now !

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[saxismyaxe]

Rhys,
You have mail. I had to help out someone with a fine Welsh name such as yours (My Mother is an Edwards)!😉

 

[rhysonsax]

Thanks Michael - the information is great but I hope I never need it.

I'm from the Welsh ghetto in Surrey and am an opressed minority. It helps not having to support the English rugby side at the moment - I can pick and choose between Welsh, English and Scots, but I'm trying to find some Kiwi blood before the World Cup next year.

All the best

Rhys