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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Mouthpieces Reeds and Ligatures / Arnold Brilhart

Jim B
User ID: 1913054 Mar 2nd 7:57 AM
Born Sept 30,1904 in Southington Connecticut. Brilhart started his professional career in 1918 and was one of the few musicians who studied and recorded with Rudy Wiedoeft. He began as lead sax with the Flotilla Orchestra in 1922. From 1928 to 1952, he was very active in New York, playing an average of 30 radio shows a week, and was equally busy in the recording field. He performed with the Artie Shaw, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Red Nichols, and other bands. In 1939, be becamse disenchanted with the quality and performance of available reed instrument mouthpieces and decided to design and produce his own line. The first precision mouthpiece of hard rubber was made in August, 1934. Twenty-eight patents in this field were issued for plastic and stainless steel products as well as synthetic reeds (Fibercane or Fibracell). In 1966, he sold out to Selmer and, in 1978, decided to reenter the mouthpiece and reed business to produce a series of tools, molds, and machines to manufacture an entirely new line of precision products; his new trade name became ARB.
He died at age 93 on May 17,1998.

Monique Von Buffet
User ID: 8945823 Mar 2nd 11:36 AM
So now we know: "The Rest of the Story". Did someone request that info? Just curious!

bruce bailey
User ID: 8046873 Mar 2nd 11:36 PM
I always liked his products and never really knew that much about him. In the mid 70s, I was a distributor for various brands in the SE (Buffet, Gemeinhardt, Schilke, etc.) and one day the phone rang and it was the MAN himself saying he was starting a new venture (ARB) and wanted me to sell the product. I couldn't at the time due to conflict with Buffet products, but it was a nice conversation.
On a similar note, a good friend, Ben Herrod who owned Otto Link when they were in Florida died a few months ago at 95.

Jim B
User ID: 1913054 Mar 4th 7:49 AM
Actually just yesterday Mr Brilhart asked me to post this information. It seems he thought some people might be curious.

ukebert
User ID: 1446254 Mar 4th 9:53 AM
I assume this is one of his descendants, not the original that died in 1998...

:-)

cmelodysax-uk
User ID: 8200143 Mar 4th 10:22 AM
True Owen, I double-checked, and to quote his biography "....until he passed away May 17, 1998, at 93 years of age"

Been in touch with any other interesting spirits recently Jim ?

Jim B
User ID: 0889114 Mar 4th 10:33 AM
Post above from Monique said she was curious so Mr Brilhart's spirit answered her.

Monique Von Buffet
User ID: 8945823 Mar 4th 8:34 PM
Wow! A supernatural explanation. I've got goosebumps. Did he tell you that he also invented his own brand of saxophone and marketed it through Selmer? That's what he told me at a seance, right after he spoke to you, Jim.

bruce bailey
User ID: 8046873 Mar 5th 1:38 AM
Charlie Parker and I are sitting in with the Glenn Miller band this week and I get to play lead!!!
Oops, I wasn't taking my medication....

Jim B
User ID: 1913054 Mar 5th 8:55 AM
If Charlie Parker asks to borrow your horn, say no. Many people in the past said ok, and they had to go to the local pawn shop to find it.Charlie used to funds for his medication...

Jim B
User ID: 1913054 Mar 5th 9:00 AM
By the way Bruce if interested in what killed Charlie Parker, I can explain if I can find the currect heading to do so. Big hint, it was laughter.Glen Miller was killed probably by an RAF bomb.

Monique von buffet
User ID: 8945823 Mar 5th 1:57 PM
What I said about Arnold Brilhart inventing his own horn and marketing it through Selmer is True. Look it up on Google.

Kristen
User ID: 0352454 Mar 5th 3:55 PM
I've been doing my own communing with the spirit of Mr Brilhart lately. Not long ago I bought a Wurlitzer labeled Martin c-melody on ebay from one of those auction places that simply lists and posts pictures but answers no questions. I was the only bidder and got it for just under $200. When it arrived it was in near mint condition without even tarnish - had a newer repad with Selmer-style resonators, a new gig bag, and a vintage Brilhart mouthpiece. Even the bell notes rolled out with no effort. I then tried it on my Buescher with the same results. It was enough to make me believe the guy knew his stuff.

Jim B User ID: 1913054	Mar 2nd 7:57 AM Born Sept 30,1904 in Southington Connecticut. Brilhart started his professional career in 1918 and was one of the few musicians who studied and recorded with Rudy Wiedoeft. He began as lead sax with the Flotilla Orchestra in 1922. From 1928 to 1952, he was very active in New York, playing an average of 30 radio shows a week, and was equally busy in the recording field. He performed with the Artie Shaw, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Red Nichols, and other bands. In 1939, be becamse disenchanted with the quality and performance of available reed instrument mouthpieces and decided to design and produce his own line. The first precision mouthpiece of hard rubber was made in August, 1934. Twenty-eight patents in this field were issued for plastic and stainless steel products as well as synthetic reeds (Fibercane or Fibracell). In 1966, he sold out to Selmer and, in 1978, decided to reenter the mouthpiece and reed business to produce a series of tools, molds, and machines to manufacture an entirely new line of precision products; his new trade name became ARB. He died at age 93 on May 17,1998.
Monique Von Buffet User ID: 8945823	Mar 2nd 11:36 AM So now we know: "The Rest of the Story". Did someone request that info? Just curious!
bruce bailey User ID: 8046873	Mar 2nd 11:36 PM I always liked his products and never really knew that much about him. In the mid 70s, I was a distributor for various brands in the SE (Buffet, Gemeinhardt, Schilke, etc.) and one day the phone rang and it was the MAN himself saying he was starting a new venture (ARB) and wanted me to sell the product. I couldn't at the time due to conflict with Buffet products, but it was a nice conversation. On a similar note, a good friend, Ben Herrod who owned Otto Link when they were in Florida died a few months ago at 95.
Jim B User ID: 1913054	Mar 4th 7:49 AM Actually just yesterday Mr Brilhart asked me to post this information. It seems he thought some people might be curious.
ukebert User ID: 1446254	Mar 4th 9:53 AM I assume this is one of his descendants, not the original that died in 1998... :-)
cmelodysax-uk User ID: 8200143	Mar 4th 10:22 AM True Owen, I double-checked, and to quote his biography "....until he passed away May 17, 1998, at 93 years of age" Been in touch with any other interesting spirits recently Jim ?
Jim B User ID: 0889114	Mar 4th 10:33 AM Post above from Monique said she was curious so Mr Brilhart's spirit answered her.
Monique Von Buffet User ID: 8945823	Mar 4th 8:34 PM Wow! A supernatural explanation. I've got goosebumps. Did he tell you that he also invented his own brand of saxophone and marketed it through Selmer? That's what he told me at a seance, right after he spoke to you, Jim.
bruce bailey User ID: 8046873	Mar 5th 1:38 AM Charlie Parker and I are sitting in with the Glenn Miller band this week and I get to play lead!!! Oops, I wasn't taking my medication....
Jim B User ID: 1913054	Mar 5th 8:55 AM If Charlie Parker asks to borrow your horn, say no. Many people in the past said ok, and they had to go to the local pawn shop to find it.Charlie used to funds for his medication...
Jim B User ID: 1913054	Mar 5th 9:00 AM By the way Bruce if interested in what killed Charlie Parker, I can explain if I can find the currect heading to do so. Big hint, it was laughter.Glen Miller was killed probably by an RAF bomb.
Monique von buffet User ID: 8945823	Mar 5th 1:57 PM What I said about Arnold Brilhart inventing his own horn and marketing it through Selmer is True. Look it up on Google.
Kristen User ID: 0352454	Mar 5th 3:55 PM I've been doing my own communing with the spirit of Mr Brilhart lately. Not long ago I bought a Wurlitzer labeled Martin c-melody on ebay from one of those auction places that simply lists and posts pictures but answers no questions. I was the only bidder and got it for just under $200. When it arrived it was in near mint condition without even tarnish - had a newer repad with Selmer-style resonators, a new gig bag, and a vintage Brilhart mouthpiece. Even the bell notes rolled out with no effort. I then tried it on my Buescher with the same results. It was enough to make me believe the guy knew his stuff.