Sometimes I get emails from people looking for particular saxophones. More often than not those buyers are looking for some of the more uncommon instruments like a bass, or an unusual, specific brand such a Pierret, or a Hammerschmidt Klingsor sax.
At the moment I don’t have anyone looking for a Hammerschmidt Klingsor, but I do know someone who is selling one. My SOTW friend milandro is selling his silver plated, Plexiglas key guarded, Hammerschmidt Klingsor tenor saxophone.
This is a Hammerschmidt Klingsor tenor sax 54 Model B.
Thanks to a Hammerschmidt publication that I recently received from a fellow in New Zealand, I can finally include the official descriptions of these horns from the manufacturer. (Yes, the resource is in German.)
The Hammerschmidt Klingsor tenor saxophone 54 Model B had the following features:
- 9 mother of pearl key touches
- Keyed from low Bb to high F
- Triple octave keys
- Rolled tone holes
- Seamless body tube
- Plexiglas key guards on the low Eb, C, B, and Bb keys (sheet metal guards were available as well)
- Special high F mechanism
- B trill key*
- A duplicate B for the left and right index fingers*
- New combination G# key
- G# trill key
- Chromatic F# key
- 8 rollers**
* I’m not sure where this key(s) is on the horn—despite having the same model tenor myself.
** Maybe I’m blind, but I only count 7.
This particular tenor that milandro is selling appears to be in very good shape. It still has its original, rivet only pads in it. It is playable as is, but is definitely due for a repad.
The serial # of the horn is 02XX. According to the tentative serial # chart that Uwe Ladwig put together, this Hammerschmidt Klingsor sax is from the early 1950s. Likely circa ’52 or ’53.
If you are interested in finding out more about this sax, please contact milandro directly. He has a thread about this Klingsor tenor on SOTW. You can see what others are saying about the horn there.
milandro is looking for 600€ for the horn as is. If you would like it overhauled, the price would be 1000€.
Regarding the blindness in your remark: “** Maybe I’m blind, but I only count 7.”
No not blind, just looking in the wrong places, it is an uncommon roller that is not ment to be touched by fingers.
It is with difficulty visible on the picture of the triple octave mechanism. A roller from the A key to the middle octave key cup.
My eyes are not very good, but I have seen this roller before on a Klingsor with a serial number between 750 and 800.
It is a good idea, as it reduces the friction in the mechanism.
I haven’t seen this octave roller on other saxophones. Sometimes such a roller is used in a modern G# mechanism.
Now, as we live in modern times, some disclaimers:
Sources of support in the form of grants
None.
Acknowledgement
The author has no funding sources to disclose.
Conflict of interest statement
The author declares that he has no financial or personal relationships with other people or organisations that could inappropriately influence this work.
HI Helen,
Quote: “B trill key*”
I suspect this involves differing jargon between English and Deutsch.
Looking at the left hand little finger (pinky) table, I am guessing that they claim there is a viable trill between B and H (B-flat and B-natural in English).
That’s just a WAG[1].
Peace,
paul
[1]wild-assed-guess
That occurred to me too (the wraparound low Bb), but I also thought maybe they meant the bis key — although those have been standard offerings hardly worth a mention even longer than automatic octave keys.
Actually, I have another idea, but I’ll have to dig my alto out and give it a try to test my theory.
Most German horns of the era have a high C/D trill key. Hammerschmidt’s Model A has it, and in the description of the Model B they refer to it as not having the D trill key.
I’m wondering if this same key can also be used to play a B if used in combination with another fingering. If so, then that’s what they meant.
Also just a WAG on my part at this point, but I’ll try out my alto this afternoon and see if it’s correct. BTW, the key in question is the one that might be mistaken for a high F# key—based on its position beside the right palm keys in this pic.