Saxophones help with info on a sax

[lewis83]

Hi guy's an gals.

Quick intro. Started playing 20 years ago. (alto) don't get to play much now due to time and family commitments etc.
Still love the horn as much now as ever.

Anyway. Onto to subject at hand.
I was given a lovley looking silver (unknown material) tenor sax. Needs a bit of tlc but should into a reasonable instrument.

Now here is the thing. I cant get any info about the instrument.
I will put some pics up.
All my searching has brought very little info up about the company etc.
Is it a remake? Chinese clone?
What age could this sax be?
Is it worth spending the money to get it playable?

Any info anyone can deliver will be greatly appreciated.
Worst case it's not worth anything but will polosh up into a lovely ornament.

Thank you

 

[Stephen Howard]

Looks like the real deal to me.

It's quite old, made by Triebert...which may, or may not, mean it's made by Couesnon. Not that it matters much, because it's likely to be a very nice horn indeed.
Quirky too, with a couple of patent mechanisms.
The LP stamped on the rear indicates it's low pitch...which means it's in tune with modern horns.

Age? Early 1900s give or take a decade or so...at a guess.

Definitely worth fixing...and playing - and very likely a keeper.

Edit: Revised date...maybe 1930's?

 

[lewis83]

Thank younfor the quick reply.

Yeah all info i could garner pointed to Triebert having been bought out by Couesnon in the late 1800's early 1900's.
Couldn't really find anything to confirm or deny Couesnon making Tenor sax's under their name.
It really has some nice "quirks" to it.
It needs a complete overhaul. New pads, springs and corks.
Don't think i want it polished. Maybe remove some of the black tarnish. Maybe not. It adds to the character.

If anyone has any more info in these horns i would love to hear it.

Thanks.

 

[Stephen Howard]

I have a feeling there's something I know about Triebert saxes, but can't for the life of me remember what it is.

Some of the keywork looks old (the front top F key, single piece Bb) and yet the low B/Bb on the same side of the bell and that very art deco guard sort of send mixed messages about the date.

Found some pics here, but nothing of much use:

French Makes & Models / Triebert | TheSax.Info Piwigo Photo Gallery

Chris James might have a few ideas, what with him being a proper Couesnon buff.

I wouldn't bother to polish it. It's a matt finish anyway, and they don't take much of a shine. It never lasts on silver plate - just keep it clean and tidy.

 

[lewis83]

Yeah its got some strange design "features".
Im struggling to get my head round the pads on the left of the bell.......
Twice now i've thought i had broken it as i looked down to see a smooth uninterupted bell lol.

Thank you for all your help.

 

[kevgermany]

That's lovely. I'd guess late 20s/early 30s. Nothing to add, sorry. But Couesnon did make tenors. No idea if this is one of theirs.

 

[Colin the Bear]

What a beauty. Well worth fixing up. G# trill is it? Very modern for such an old timer. It must have been cutting edge in its day.

 

[lewis83]

Thanks guy's. She really is lovely to look at and to hold.
Needs some work at the crook clamp. It's stretched and will need a spot of surgery to get a good fit. Something i will not entertain myself.
Not sure if It will help but there is a capital N or possibly a Z stamped ontop of the the right hand thumb rest. Might help someone in the "know" narrow it down.
Need to get her to a good smiths for a quote so i can see how much of the kids holoday money i can spend on her ;-)

 

[Jeanette]

Lovely looking sax, enjoy

Jx

 

[lewis83]

So.
For those that are interested.
I think i have the date on this lovely lady narrowed down.
Cousenon patented an articulated G# key in 1935. Something this sax is missing. The art deco touches i have found on a pre Cousenon monopole I. Link here
Couesnon Monopole Alto Up For Auction On eBay

So. I am left wondering if Cousenon branded some of their pre production or first run sax's as Triebert or as another owned brand name. Something we have seen manufacturers do in the past.

Certainly looking at the Alto in the link provided there is a clear family resemblance between my tenor and the Cousenon Alto.
So as was said previously. She is a girl of the 30's

Shame all Cousenon's records have been lost. They would surly have shed more light than my uneducated guess work.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Is it the light, or is that gold plate?

 

[lewis83]

It seems to be silver/nickle plated over brass.
And you are right. Under the correct light you get a gold shimmer shining through.

 

[Pete Thomas]

It seems to be silver/nickle plated over brass.
And you are right. Under the correct light you get a gold shimmer shining through.

silver and nickel are quite different. Silver tarnishes quickly with sort of balck layer that can be polished easily (but not from the inaccessible bits)

Nickel doesn't tarnish but has a kind of slimier look to it. (And I haven't seen frosted nickel, but maybe there is)

Gold doesn't tarnish and looks gold, but can look a bit less gold sometimes.

 

[lewis83]

She is in the shop.
The techs eyes lit up when he saw her.
He managed to get a seal on the crook and my oh my.
What a sound!! The tone is fat and round. Made my heart skip a beat to hear.
You know she sounds good when your tone deaf wife says "it soinds really Jazzy" lol.

She is having some minor surgery to her neck.
There are some small leaks to some of the pads. That will be for next month.
And 3 of her springs could do with being replaced.
The month after.
I can not wait to get a nice mpc and to get her home to start playing.

 

[lewis83]

Well she is home!!
30 quid and the tenon is sorted and the crook has been re-corked.
Big thank you to Pete and the guy's at windblowers in Nottingham.
Managed to get the full range of notes. Not easy as she is leaking like the Titanic lol. But the tone is fantastic! Even with a butchered Ebolin special (plastic and nasty).
She will be back in the shop at the end of this month for a full service.

Isn't she lovely!
I'm totally head over heels for her. Looks like the wife can "do one" an leave me with the kids and our ever expannding musical instrument collection lol.

 

[Mike Laughlin]

View attachment 8838

Well she is home!!
30 quid and the tenon is sorted and the crook has been re-corked.
Big thank you to Pete and the guy's at windblowers in Nottingham.
Managed to get the full range of notes. Not easy as she is leaking like the Titanic lol. But the tone is fantastic! Even with a butchered Ebolin special (plastic and nasty).
She will be back in the shop at the end of this month for a full service.

Isn't she lovely!
I'm totally head over heels for her. Looks like the wife can "do one" an leave me with the kids and our ever expannding musical instrument collection lol.

Do you still have the Triebert sax ?