Saxophones Grafton, who knows more about it?

[Danny@HSM]

@aldevis - again correct!

The bone player Roy at our Big Band is a tech, old school, of senior years... and he used to work in the Grafton factory... I should see him tomorrow so will show him this & see what he has to add...

This looks really interesting, I would really love to meet you both and speak about this great saxophone, you know why 😉

 

[kevgermany]

Have you seen Stephen Howard's articles?

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Grafton_alto.htm

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/misc/nakedgrafton.htm

 

[Danny@HSM]

Yes, I've read them, thank you

 

[kevgermany]

This article has links to Dave Gelly's article and Wally Horwood's.

http://www.thesax.info/photoblog/2013/05/grafton/

The author/site owner is Pete Hales who set up and ran saxpics.

 

[aldevis]

[Warning: name dropping]

Now that I think about it: the legendary Willie Garnett overhauled Parker's Grafton for Christie's. I am rehearsing with him tomorrow. Should I ask him any pub-friendly question?

 

[Pete Thomas]

My current Grafton came with original case and two mouthpiece. One a white Dearman and the other a black one.

Diversity I presume

 

[Danny@HSM]

[Warning: name dropping]

Now that I think about it: the legendary Willie Garnett overhauled Parker's Grafton for Christie's. I am rehearsing with him tomorrow. Should I ask him any pub-friendly question?

Make an interview!!! It is mandatory!!! 🙂

 

[Danny@HSM]

My current Grafton came with original case and two mouthpiece. One a white Dearman and the other a black one.

Diversity I presume

Thank you Pete.
I also have the black one and the original case, can we deduct it was usually sold with two mouthpieces?

Danny

 

[aldevis]

Let's be realistic: he achieved much more than that. Pete knows the man too...

I will be delighted to introduce you next time you are in London.

 

[Targa]

[Warning: name dropping]

Now that I think about it: the legendary Willie Garnett overhauled Parker's Grafton for Christie's. I am rehearsing with him tomorrow. Should I ask him any pub-friendly question?

What's yours?
Would probably be appropriate.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Is there anyone here who hasn't owned a Grafton? Mine had a gert big split in the body that someone had tried to repair.

I looked like my avatar 40 years ago.

 

[aldevis]

I would love a Grafton...

 

[kevgermany]

My tech has one in his display cabinet. Just looks like a piece of junk from Hong Kong. Doesn't turn me on. Interesting as an historical object. But that's all for me. If I find a cheap one I'll buy it to sell on - or keep as an investment, but a MkVI is a better bet. Less fragile and easy to fix.

 

[rhysonsax]

Rhys - is that article still in copyright ? . if not it`d make a great resource here !

I am not sure about copyright, but the text of the article is mostly available on this page, linked from the Pete Hales site: http://web.archive.org/web/20050823...l.nl/~lexlub/chroma-tic/grafton/sommaruga.htm

Wally Horwood's article also has some nice pictures, but they don't look so good in my magazine or the scanned version.

Rhys

 

[aldevis]

[Warning: name dropping]
the legendary Willie Garnett overhauled Parker's Grafton for Christie's.

And in that occasion...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjY1NPUUp9U

 

[kevgermany]

And in that occasion...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjY1NPUUp9U

That one has a transparent mouthpiece.

 

[Danny@HSM]

I am thinking to a Grafton owners meeting with a guided tour to the places, technical talks, jam sessions, jazz food and so on. What do you think?

 

[Jeanette]

Is there anyone here who hasn't owned a Grafton? Mine had a gert big split in the body that someone had tried to repair.

I looked like my avatar 40 years ago.

I've never owned one 🙂

Jx

 

[Danny@HSM]

Oh... really? Well it is fine. Everything can be fixed in time. People always say so....

 

[rhysonsax]

I am thinking to a Grafton owners meeting with a guided tour to the places, technical talks, jam sessions, jazz food and so on. What do you think?

Nice idea. A Grafton pilgrimage.

I guess that all of the main people involved in making it are long gone. I did meet Martin Block the repairer mentioned in Wally Horwood's article, but that must be at least 25 years ago.

Rhys