I happened to notice some interesting saxophone photos on Flickr this morning by Steve Barringer. However, one in particular grabbed my attention more than the others: the ornate engraving on the bow of these Taiwanese-made saxophones.
There is just something about seeing saxophones in production that just fascinates me. Much like young music students, horns in production are full of potential. Some may be used to do great things and/or record memorable classics, and it all starts on a production line with a sheet of metal.
saxophones for all to see – house of saxophones (chang lien-chang memorial hall) houli, taiwan
Photography by: zosoiv71 Source: Flickr
If the name Houli is familiar to you, that could be because you’re familiar with Taiwanese saxophones. (Something that I readily admit I am not.)
I wrote a post last year about SaxPlayHouse, which is also located in Houli. If Google translation got it right, according to SaxPlayHouse’s website, at the time they claimed that 1/3 of the world’s saxophones were produced in the Houli township of Taiwan.
I haven’t gone back to check if this claim is still on the site or not. However, given China’s ever-expanding push into the market place, I can see how Houli’s market share will be eroded soon.
