Saxophones Pork Tales: Saxophone Repair DIY Adventures.

Life around the barn.

Tales from a pig that likes to stick his nose into everything.

Paint that S. How difficult could it be ?

1) Search the net.
2) Find the color.
3) Order color.
4) Study task on University of YouTube, aka; For destruction by DYI presented by pro tech.

Do the cleaning & prep.

Paint and cleanup / detail the edges with hard cotton swabs. Sounds easy……

Yeah tha guy Matt makes it look easy.
Anyone remember your first experience cooking bacon crispy while still in the frying pan !

 

[PigSquealer]

A bit of history on the design. Credit to @helen at Bassic-sax.info. I can’t get the link to work. These are archived screenshots from the folder of the one I own.
Patient September 29, 1951 “Plexiglass” as the material. A fairly new post war material.

I picked this up for $70 a few years ago. It plays well and has an original metal replacement wing in nickel plated finish.

The lower stack cover I usually leave off, but this is the look.

This is a”Martelle” stencil from 1958-59.

The only other German horn I have is a 1977-78 Hohner President alto.

 

[Targa]

Plexiglass was developed before that as it was used in WW2 aircraft canopies amongst other things.

 

[PigSquealer]

Plexiglass was developed before that as it was used in WW2 aircraft canopies amongst other things.

Yes very true. The chemical patent date is 1933. Much was learned during the war for use in different applications.
Post war plastics were considered new materials to the general public.

Wartime Clarity: The Tale of Plexiglas and Lucite - Plastics Hall of Fame

Author: PHOF Historical Committee Lead Researcher: Wendy Hoenig Featured Hall of Fame Member: Rohm and Haas In the early 1900s, as the world braced for rapid industrial and military changes, materials like glass and metal were trusted allies. They served well in building aircraft, submarines...

plasticshof.org

Timeline of plastic is interesting subject. This Wiki is missing several. Like plexiglass 🤦‍♂️

Timeline of plastic development - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[mark_addy]

The musical nature of this forum along with the current thrust of the discussion perhaps allow me to share that 'polyoxybenzylmethyleneglycolanhydride' may be sung (while slightly murdering the scansion) to the tune of 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'. Um-diddle-iddle-iddle Um-diddle-eye
🙂

A while back I got involved in a vibration control job at a factory in Darwen, Lancs, which was apparently placed up here during the war to make acrylic (perspex) sheets for aeroplane cockpit hoods - and still makes the stuff now, but for peaceful purposes. Talking of wartime plastics factories, the radio company 'Ekco' was famous in the 30s for their creative use of the Bakelite process and their products are considered design classics by people who collect that kind of thing. The presses they had recently installed were just about in the worst place they could be (Southend-on-Sea) when war broke out, and were considered immovable - but apparently they survived the wartime bombing, which was good news if you needed a groovy salad bowl and serving tongs in the 1950s (they diversified).

 

[thomsax]

Grafton had a something in the same style as Keilwerth. My "Klingsor" (Hammerschmidt) from 1956 have "lite plastic" keygaurds. Not in one piece. The low C and Eb keygaurds are without engraving. Easier to replace. I'm going to make a new keygaurd for low C.

Why did Keilwerth keep the long and in one-piece side Bb key so long. A premium sax without articulated side Bb key! The New King had hinged (one-piece) side Bb key but that was a intermediate model.

 

[PigSquealer]

Grafton had a something in the same style as Keilwerth. My "Klingsor" (Hammerschmidt) from 1956 have "lite plastic" keygaurds. Not in one piece. The low C and Eb keygaurds are without engraving. Easier to replace. I'm going to make a new keygaurd for low C.
View attachment 37076

That’s a beautiful Klingsor. I had no clue this design existed. Thanks for sharing.
I did do a brief study on the maker when I serviced a Klingson tenor #61. The maker was certainly creative with cloth guard design.

 

[PigSquealer]

Why did Keilwerth keep the long and in one-piece side Bb key so long. A premium sax without articulated side Bb key! The New King had hinged (one-piece) side Bb key but that was a intermediate model.

?? SN#340xx Toneking. 1958-59 ?

 

[thomsax]

Maybe I got it all wrong ...... but this 1957 Toneking tyenor seems to have a long side Bb key?

Keilwerth Crestone Toneking (1957)

Rolled tone holes and a one piece keyguard across all lower keys – the Keilwerth Toneking is an unusual, but interesting instrument. Read Saximus Maximus review of this classic instrument fro…

saximax.com

 

[PigSquealer]

Maybe I got it all wrong ...... but this 1957 Toneking tyenor seems to have a long side Bb key?

Keilwerth Crestone Toneking (1957)

Rolled tone holes and a one piece keyguard across all lower keys – the Keilwerth Toneking is an unusual, but interesting instrument. Read Saximus Maximus review of this classic instrument fro…

saximax.com

Thanks for seeking clarification. Honestly I’m no refined connoisseur of this maker. We are all learning about the features together. Would be nice to have a makers subsection on site for this reason. Pete needs to have a life and this is tons of work to build and manage.

lol, that’s an alto. I’ve have that same article bookmarked.
The example SN# 30026 is slightly lower than my unit @ SN# 313xx. Both having the same 20cm+ insanely long side Bb. My best guess for retaining this was production costs ? It works, but the key can buzz like a turning fork when hit hard. Sometimes you can fill the cup with shellac. Sometimes Ya better not. Weight on the bob mass movement from hinge point ?
I have decent luck adding 25-30mm of 1.5mm thick cork under the key arm. This just right of guide / cradle (the uprights). Works as vibration damper. The stuff studio recording engineers hear is impressive. Figuring out what’s making the “noise”. I couldn’t hear. But I sure could feel it in my right hand. Score one for duct tape fix 🤪

 

[thomsax]

Here is a #32XXX (1958) Keilwerth Toneking tenor with articulate side Bb key from World Wide Sax. High F# as well. So I was wrong.

 

[PigSquealer]

Here is a #32XXX (1958) Keilwerth Toneking tenor with articulate side Bb key from World Wide Sax. High F# as well. So I was wrong.

View attachment 37095
View attachment 37096

Honestly you weren’t wrong. I too didn’t realize the difference between the tenor and alto until you pointed out the feature. We now know better 😊.

 

[PigSquealer]

The desoldering braided wick arrived. I’m going to pass on trying charcoal. I can’t find a neighbor that has any. I need one briquette, not a $9 four pound bag.
The wick was sourced from Amazombie. Sub $5, three 10’/ 300cm rolls in different widths. 2mm, 2.5mm,3mm. Rosen flux imbedded. Air tight holders and nice storage box. I’ll list the link if the material works.

The wicking product was available from local warehouse. Same day delivery with $24 minimum purchase. So I added some paste flux. My 25 year old 4oz tube is about out. Time to start experimenting with modern products. 4oz tub $5. National brand in trade work. Will report my findings and the product later. It is approved for lead free soft solder and brass work.

Usually I’ll add on household consumables to the order. Didn’t need any this time….needed to add $15 to the tab
My first thought was maybe a Christmas gift ? But what for $15 and who ? Dug ?? The Dude has antlers (favorite chew thing) all over the barn. Pass !
Oops, I clicked on something for myself 🤪. Couldn’t resist after seeing “Made in England”, perfect for beginners too !
Key of D.

Not so sure I like the included set list. The fingering chart is color coded by MI6 & CIA with help from NASA. All for six holes 🤦‍♂️. I will say it blows extremely easy. Unlike my Yamaha YRT-304B tenor recorder. That takes Zeppelin size lungs to blow. Fun and enjoyable for $19 delivered. Yeah, I went and splurged an extra $4. Green was $2 less than black FWIW. Probably old British Racing Green from MG on discount 😇

 

[mizmar]

Probably old British Racing Green from MG

An excellent choice for faster trills, rolls and cuts !

I find my small clutch of tin whistles very useful. When we get a new song for the all-commers choir, I can often work out the melody on the whistle to get the tune properly in the ear. Just pick up and go, without any of the faff of the saxophone.

 

[thomsax]

That’s a beautiful Klingsor. I had no clue this design existed. Thanks for sharing.
I did do a brief study on the maker when I serviced a Klingson tenor #61. The maker was certainly creative with cloth guard design.

View attachment 37079
View attachment 37078

This is a very cool sax. Hammerschmidt with (soft)soldered tones and slightly bevelded tonehole rims. Maybe this is the Olds what Martin made for them?

Hammerschmidt, Hohner, Keilwerth and Kohlert made saxes with (soft)soldered tones and bevelded, more or less, tonehole rims after WWII.

 

[PigSquealer]

This is a very cool sax. Hammerschmidt with (soft)soldered tones and slightly bevelded tonehole rims.

The Hammerschmidt has many interesting features. The way key cups are attached to arms. Angle setup and shapes of everything. Sculpted engineering.

Maybe this is the Olds what Martin made for them?

The Olds Super was the only Olds sax they actually made in house. 1939-1941 only. It was designed by a former Martin employee. Has feel & sound of a Comm II. The one I serviced showed great craftsmanship and high quality materials.

Olds Super Alto & Tenor Saxophones | The New Bassic Sax

This article about the Olds Super saxophone was originally written by Pete Hales in 2014. The content is how Pete wrote it. I have updated only what was needed.

bassicsax.com

 

[PigSquealer]

Happy Monday 😃
Cleanup on the Toneking is underway. Here’s the start point.

 

[PigSquealer]

 

[PigSquealer]

It’s not that bad. Just ugly. Only twenty something locations to clean up. It’s in need of full repad, cork & felt.
The pads are decent, but not worth trying to salvage them. Some are burnt. A few have borderline fit issues (too small or booster almost contacting chimney rim). Others have shellac oozing around edges. I’m expecting to find shims under several upon removal. At that time I’ll be able to test the black leather treatment. Dye or shoe polish?
At least it doesn’t smell bad 😂

 

[PigSquealer]

Burnt

Booster very close to socket edge.

A bit small.

??? Ran of boosters and shoe polish ? Key arm / cup needs realignment for better pad to chimney contact.

 

[PigSquealer]

A new record for tenor upper stack hinge rod.
Just short of 16” / 40.5cm

Not sure how to measure these threads on end ?

No slot on other end…..No screwdriver necessary 🤦‍♂️