C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Good Natured Banter / OLDEST C MELODY

Back 20 Messages

DeanoTheSaxman
User ID: 7552673 Oct 19th 4:53 PM
Anyone know what the oldest C Melody anybody has, when did they start making them ?????

WW2
User ID: 1585334 Nov 17th 5:20 PM
I know that the C-Melody was part of Sax's original patent. The oldest I have heard of was from 1890. Although I do have a photograph of a Civil War Band from 1863 (see http://mysite.verizon.net/res8o1o8/civilwarsax.jpg for the picture) that looks suspiciously like a C-Melody!

WW2
User ID: 1585334 Nov 17th 5:31 PM
The patent is for the tone holes. Go to http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm and enter the patent number 1119954 then search.

There is no full text, but click on images. The second image is a long textual description of the problem with soldered tone holes, and the fix that this patent implements (pulled, or drawn, tone holes rather than soldered). Applies to Flutes, Piccolos, Saxophones, (metal) clarinets, etc.

Alan (UK)
User ID: 8200143 Nov 17th 8:09 PM
Useful link, thanks Wade. I can't help but laugh, being a Martin enthusiast, I probably have more soldered tone-holes under one roof than possibly anyone else on this planet - with absolutely none if them leaking......(tone-holes, that is - not the roof). Neither have I ever had one leak - or fall out - on past Martins !

It'll take more than a pesky flute manufacturer to sway my loyalty to chunky soldered toneholes, in favour of those pathetic (easily damaged) drawn chimneys. Balderdash and piffle !

WW2
User ID: 0847534 Nov 22nd 10:37 AM
As I read the patent, it occurred to me that it was not so much an innovation in the instruments as it was in the manufacturing. Using this technique manufacturers could now use less expensive and skilled labor to produce the instruments. It also takes less time, so the cost of manufacture is lowered. This is not a benefit for the musicians, but for the accountants and manufacturers!

Back 20 Messages

DeanoTheSaxman User ID: 7552673	Oct 19th 4:53 PM Anyone know what the oldest C Melody anybody has, when did they start making them ?????
WW2 User ID: 1585334	Nov 17th 5:20 PM I know that the C-Melody was part of Sax's original patent. The oldest I have heard of was from 1890. Although I do have a photograph of a Civil War Band from 1863 (see http://mysite.verizon.net/res8o1o8/civilwarsax.jpg for the picture) that looks suspiciously like a C-Melody!
WW2 User ID: 1585334	Nov 17th 5:31 PM The patent is for the tone holes. Go to http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm and enter the patent number 1119954 then search. There is no full text, but click on images. The second image is a long textual description of the problem with soldered tone holes, and the fix that this patent implements (pulled, or drawn, tone holes rather than soldered). Applies to Flutes, Piccolos, Saxophones, (metal) clarinets, etc.
Alan (UK) User ID: 8200143	Nov 17th 8:09 PM Useful link, thanks Wade. I can't help but laugh, being a Martin enthusiast, I probably have more soldered tone-holes under one roof than possibly anyone else on this planet - with absolutely none if them leaking......(tone-holes, that is - not the roof). Neither have I ever had one leak - or fall out - on past Martins ! It'll take more than a pesky flute manufacturer to sway my loyalty to chunky soldered toneholes, in favour of those pathetic (easily damaged) drawn chimneys. Balderdash and piffle !
WW2 User ID: 0847534	Nov 22nd 10:37 AM As I read the patent, it occurred to me that it was not so much an innovation in the instruments as it was in the manufacturing. Using this technique manufacturers could now use less expensive and skilled labor to produce the instruments. It also takes less time, so the cost of manufacture is lowered. This is not a benefit for the musicians, but for the accountants and manufacturers!