Expert: Kenton Scott - 11/28/2006

Question
Kenton,

Another good point on Rudy playing the C melody sax.  Yea, why a signiture bari horn?

I found Rudy to be quite a interesting fellow.  From what it sounds he can be credited with bringing the saxophone out of classical and into swing.  He sure must have been something, always having a flask on his hip.

Another thing I learned was the saxophone craze of the early 1900's.  They said the guitar craze of the 60's baled in comparison to the saxophone craze.  In fact there were so many people playing the saxophone that one city actually banned the playing of a saxophone from 10:00 PM till the next day.  I never knew about this craze.

Thanks for your time.  I learned quite a bit during the exploration of my Frank Holton baritone sax.

By the way, I forgot to mentiong the sax is still in great shape.  I play it out.  Amazing, 90 years old and still playable.

Thanks again,
Jim Srnick
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That's a good point.  I did, however, check for that.  The answer is no.  There are no missing numbers on either end of the serial number.  The number is centered and circular in nature with the begining number the same height as the end number.  The "L P" is also centered below these numbers.  All this indicates all the numbers are there.

Could it be possible that Holton had a different numbering system for woodwinds and brass instruments?


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-----Question-----
Kenton,

I found a web site that listed Holton instrument serial numbers and came to the same conclusion that the saxophone was made in 1916, however I question the validity of this because on the bell of the sax it says it's a Rudy Wiedoeft model.  I did some research on Rudy Wiedoeft.  

Rudy Wiedoeft was a famos Saxophone player during the 1920's and 30's.  He was born in 1893.  According to the information I've got on Rudy he didn't come to New York until 1918, which means he didn't become famous until sometime during the 20's.  If that is the case how can a saxophone made in 1916 have Rudy Wiedoefts name on it?

I find this interesting.

Thanks,
Jim Srnick


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-----Question-----
I have a Frank Holton Baritone Saxophone.  It is a Rudy Wiedoeft model.  
Serial number:
34667
L P

What do you think?

Thanks!
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I think you have an old saxophone from 1916.  

Woodwinds are not my area, so I don't know anything about models.  

LP means that is would play in tune with modern instruments.
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Do you suppose it is possible that part of the serial number got rubbed off so that maybe it is really 84667, or 134667?


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Jim,

You got me reading about Rudy.  He was not someone I had run across previously.  But, I find it curious that you have a baritone sax, when Rudy played a C Melody sax.  Usually, signature models are on the horn that the person played.

The only thing I can think of is that the horn was at least partly manufactured in 1916, but wasn't sold until later years when Rudy was popular and it was dubbed his model.

Answer
> From what it sounds he can be credited with bringing the saxophone out of classical and into swing.

I think he brought it from military and classical uses to a popular idiom, though, I think he was more of a ragtime player.  

The sax, though it had been invented I believe in the 1840's or thereabouts really never caught on to any great degree for about 60 years.  And, then they became the darling of jazz.  It is interesting how they could generate so little attention for so long and still survive, and then all of a sudden became a popular craze.  I think they were suppressed by the popularity of the brass (cornet) band, and all the woodwinds didn't have much of a popular voice during the brass band movement (1850s-1880s.

I've got an old Conn Bari from 1898, that played when I got it in the 60's, but a bunch of its pads have now fallen out.  I'd like to get it in playing condition again someday.  It is interesting because it has a manual octave key (i.e. two levers instead of one).