As I was perusing the Net this morning, I happened across what I at first thought was a unicorn: A Hammerschmidt-made saxophone from the company’s days in the Watzkenreuth, Egerland region, prior to their relocation Burgau/Schawben in 1945.
However, upon looking through the photos it was immediately apparent that what I was seeing was in fact a stencil of an F.X. Hüller built during the company’s 1st Period of saxophone production.
The seller described this Klingson tenor by F.X. Hüller as follows:
I am offering for sale a Hammerschmidt Klingson tenor saxophone, made at the turn of the 1920s and 1930s. The saxophone has been adjusted by the instrument maker J. Rada. Although it could be a collector’s item, the saxophone is fully functional and ready to play. It has a beautiful period sound, soft tone and good tuning. I will sell the tool including a hard case.
I also offer a Selmer Soloist G tenor saxophone mouthpiece and a Rovner Dark ligature.
I will sell as a whole or separately.
Total: 25,000.00
Saxophone + case: 23,000.00
Mouthpiece + ligature: 3,500.00
For testing in Prague by prior arrangement.
For more information or if you are interested, do not hesitate to contact me.
According to xe.com, the Klingson tenor and its case alone would have set you back approximately $1057.92 US at the time of writing. Not a bad price for what it is.
So let’s take a closer look at this stencilled Hammerschmidt Klingson.
Source for all photos: Kristýna Kanická on kultura.hyperinzerce.cz
How this Hammerschmidt compare to other F.X. Hüller saxophones?
If you compare this Klingson by F.X. Hüller to the 1st period features ID’d on the F.X. Hüller.com website, you’ll immediately see that it ticks the boxes
| Split bell keys |  |
| Fleur-de-lis shaped bow guard | |
| Straight bell to body brace | |
| 3 ring microtuner | |
| Stencil of Champion model (microtuner, front F, no extra trill keys) | |
| 1st period (1932-35) serial #’s: 20,000 – 21,600 +600 | |
Klingson tenor saxophone: Nr. 112, Model B, Finish II
The F.X. Hüller website even has a reproduction of an old catalogue page from Karl Hammerschmidt & Söhne, which indicates that this tenor is Ausführung B. Its features are listed as:
- Range low Bb to high F
- Automatic octave key
- F lifter mechanics
- Side Bb & C trill keys
- Double Bb key for the left and right index finger
- Double F# key (with chromatic F#)
- 7 rollers
- Key guards on the F# and low B
- Microtuner
- Protection around the automatic octave lever
- All keys finished with mother of pearl
- Hard rubber mouthpiece
Given the heavy wear on the horn’s finish it is hard to say with 100% certainty if this horn was originally finish II or III. My $$ would be on II.
- Both were silver plated horns.
- II was a semi-matt plate with a gold plated inner bell.
- III was a quadruple-plated sand matt silver; burnished key work and engraving; with a gold plated inner bell.
Want more photos to compare these to?
If you would like to see more photos of F.X. Hüller and Hammerschmidt horns to compare these to, check out Bassic Sax Pix’s F.X. Hüller & Hammerschmidt galleries.
