Saxophones Martelle Saxophone???

[jbtsax]

A customer brought this in last week and I have never seen one like it. All I know at this point is that it is a "Martelle", it is made in Germany, and it is the best saxophone in the world. 🙂 (It says so right on the instrument) It also has a plastic wraparound keyguard reminiscent of a vintage Conn---I forget the model. Is anyone familiar with this brand? The customer would like some information on its age and background. Thanks.

 

[GCinCT]

Nice to finally have a definitive answer on the best in the world question!

 

[Greg Strange]

Try this...

Bassic Sax Pix

according to Helen's website made by Julius Keilwerth...

Greg S.

 

[griff136]

JK = Julius Keilwerth.
Serial number suggests it was made around 1957
Looks like it is a stencil based on the King or New King model.
It should have a thick plastic clothes guard protecting the bottom stack key feet.

 

[thomsax]

A sax made by Keilwerth , Nauheim , (West) Germany. The trademark " Best In the World " was stamped ( not engraved) on the back on the saxes. Like Beuschers " True Tone " , King " Voll Tone " , Hohner (Max Keilwerth) "Pure Tone " ... . A sax with " Best In ..." Was Keilwerths best saxes. Different names but same saxes/tubes . I think a Bundy Special was based on these saxes as well. I have "Wikenna" with "WK Trademark " No Fanny engravings and plastiic key guards but still a Keilwerth Nauhem with roller toneholes and combined neck in The Martin style.

 

[thomsax]

A sax made by Keilwerth , Nauheim , (West) Germany. The trademark " Best In the World " was stamped ( not engraved) on the back on the saxes. Like Beuschers " True Tone " , King " Voll Tone " , Hohner (Max Keilwerth) "Pure Tone " ... . A sax with " Best In ..." Was Keilwerths best saxes. Different names but same saxes/tubes . I think a Bundy Special was based on these saxes as well. I have "Wikenna" with "WK Trademark " No Fanny engravings and plastiic key guards but still a Keilwerth Nauhem with roller toneholes and combined neck in The Martin style.

IT should fancy I pad ................. I can' reach CS on my ordinarie computer anymore.

 

[kevgermany]

JK = Julius Keilwerth.
Serial number suggests it was made around 1957
Looks like it is a stencil based on the King or New King model.
It should have a thick plastic clothes guard protecting the bottom stack key feet.

Yes. Probably New King, not Tone King.
Nice sax.

 

[altissimo]

it looks to be a stencil of a Keilwerth New King series 3
info on Keilwerths

https://www.stohrermusic.com/articles/early-keilwerth-saxophones/

The New King, Toneking & Stencils

 

[InWalkedBud]

Rare to see any New Kings or their stencils with the angelwing guard intact, assuming it's original.

 

[jbtsax]

JK = Julius Keilwerth.
Serial number suggests it was made around 1957
Looks like it is a stencil based on the King or New King model.
It should have a thick plastic clothes guard protecting the bottom stack key feet.

Unfortunately the back clothes guard is gone. The feet that held it in place were put back on with some of the worst soldering I have seen in my life. I will probably clean that up as part of the repair. I will try to find a workable substitute for the guard so the sax will have something.

 

[GCinCT]

Unfortunately the back clothes guard is gone. The feet that held it in place were put back on with some of the worst soldering I have seen in my life. I will probably clean that up as part of the repair. I will try to find a workable substitute for the guard so the sax will have something.

So maybe it’s “almost” the best saxophone in the world.

 

[DartmoorHedgehog]

To be fair on JK, they're only claiming to have the best _trade mark_ in the world 😉

 

[GCinCT]

To be fair on JK, they're only claiming to have the best _trade mark_ in the world 😉

Don't let the Mark VI guys hear that. They think their logo is legendary.