Saxophones Grafton, who knows more about it?

[Targa]

didn’t she say Beast stay out of this? 🙂

Are you talking to me?

 

[milandro]

Duck and cover!

 

[BigMartin]

I must add tat all the cafemembers I had the opportunity to have lunch with, eat quite in the continental way.

They do when they're with you...

 

[Danny@HSM]

Hey hey hey... I don't forget things... I've started thinking to the 1st.GOMeeting 😉

 

[rhysonsax]

I have just spotted that there is a Grafton for sale on eBay at the moment. It's in London but I know nothing about the seller or the horn.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grafton-A...d=100034&prg=10670&rk=3&rkt=4&sd=191312924550

Rhys

 

[Danny@HSM]

It is time for someone to join the club 🙂

 

[ProfJames]

Didn't Johnnie Dankworth play a Grafton?

 

[rhysonsax]

Didn't Johnnie Dankworth play a Grafton?

Yes, for a bit. In around 1950 Johnny Dankworth was given a prototype Grafton and made some suggestions for its improvement. He was also featured on Grafton publicity material as an endorser, along with Freddy Gardner, Ivy Benson, Ronnie Chamberlain, Arthur Coppersmith, Joe Crossman, Leslie Evans, Harry Hayes, Bill Lewington, Ken Mackintosh and more.

Later on Dankworth played a Buffet Crampon alto with a Lawton mouthpiece.

Rhys

 

[thomsax]

The rock saxplayer Steve Douglas (rip) played a Grafton. I think it sounds great. Listen to a JJ Cale (rip) gig at Bottom Line, New York 1992 (two musicians I listen to a lot).

Douglas is playing a solo on "Sensitive Kid". Starts around 10:35. Listen to the whole concert, it's fine music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhDJOHgyHWA

 

[Danny@HSM]

I won't play it anymore 🙂

 

[Ads]

I find Graftons as fascinating as anyone else but when it gets to the stage that scruffy unserviced ones are up for nearly two grand on Fleabay (weren`t they worth about £500 a couple of years ago ?) and people are terrified to play then in case they shatter , things have got to a sad state .. I wonder if Vibratos will be the same in 50 years ? ..

 

[ProfJames]

Yes, for a bit. In around 1950 Johnny Dankworth was given a prototype Grafton and made some suggestions for its improvement. He was also featured on Grafton publicity material as an endorser, along with Freddy Gardner, Ivy Benson, Ronnie Chamberlain, Arthur Coppersmith, Joe Crossman, Leslie Evans, Harry Hayes, Bill Lewington, Ken Mackintosh and more.

Later on Dankworth played a Buffet Crampon alto with a Lawton mouthpiece.

Rhys

Thanks Rhysonsax, my pal Roy Deakin (82 years old) mentioned the fact at the weekend. He knew Dankworth and they all used to practice together I believe along with Laurie Holloway. Roy Deakin was an accomplished sax player and said he could not get on with one. He was astonished when I told him what they were worth now!

 

[c9off]

Met Roy today, only had a quick chat but from that concluded that he worked prior to the first showing of the prototype onwards. He recalls with great clarity, who what, where & why, finance etc etc... and would be pleased for this journey to be documented... I'll try & meet up next week...



By the way, they were produced in Bexleyheath, Kent.... now there is a hotel... he still lives 1km away..

questions?

 

[milandro]

perhaps he could add and integrate what is already here

http://www.yezzband.nl/grafton/sommaruga.htm

 

[Danny@HSM]

Great! Thank you for sharing

 

[Vlad]

Made in Bexleyheath eh! ....I'm just down the road from there, any idea where exactly the factory was ? Was it a kind of subcontract job by a plastics firm I wonder ? ( the plastic bodies that is )
I'd have to also plead guilty to having one, early 80s , probably about 50 quid secondhand in working and usable nick..they were regarded as a bit of a gimmick..( certainly amongst my peers at the time anyway )

 

[c9off]

Made in Bexleyheath eh! ....I'm just down the road from there, any idea where exactly the factory was ? Was it a kind of subcontract job by a plastics firm I wonder ? ( the plastic bodies that is )
QUOTE]

.

It is the end of Bexleyheath Broadway where the Marriott Hotel now stands
http://preview.tinyurl.com/o27mbuq
I believe that plastic injection took place on site, the toolmaker certainly made patterns for keywork sand casting plugs..
The original test instrument was made out of sheet plastic though....
Grafton was reputedly the first instrument to be tuned with an oscilloscope custom made for them

 

[Vlad]

I know just where you mean ! ... What was the firm actually called do you know ? ( presumably Grafton was just the name of the actual sax )

 

[c9off]

I know just where you mean ! ... What was the firm actually called do you know ? ( presumably Grafton was just the name of the actual sax )

If I have remembered correctly, it was on the site of a drum maker. I'll update this at a later time..

 

[aldevis]

I think I played a gig there. Big band for some military charity in which I was looked at suspiciously for my foreigh accent.
Italians on site again...

(I have no bitter feelings on the subject. I find it quite exotic after 60 years)