There is currently a silver plated Gebr. Alexander Mainz alto sax on eBay. What makes this sax worthy of note is that it is most likely a Dörfler & Jörka stencilled sax, with 2 extra keys that I have so far not seen on any of the D&J stencil horns that I’ve come across.
In this photo you can make out what appears to be a high D# trill key immediately beside the chromatic F# key. This is a feature so far not seen on any of the other D&J horns in my rather extensive Dörfler & Jörka Gallery. In later photos you’ll also see a G# triller.
Source: eBay.com
Here is how the seller describes this vintage German saxophone:
Up for auction is a beautiful vintage Alto Saxophone, Gebr. Alexander Mainz – Germany.
It is roughly 40-50 years old – the golden age of sax manufacturing.
The Sax is Silver plated. Plating on the neck is dotted (well-seen in the picture).
Pads are old and require change. Nevertheless, the sax is in playing condition.
Comes with old, sturdy case, offers protection which is OK. No mouthpiece.
This Saxophone features a powerful, bright tone. Rolled tone holes. Gebr. Alexander Mainz of Germany is a brand known for high quality, upper scale, work only.
Beautiful engraving. Mother of pearl has been applied generously.
According to German saxophone historian Uwe Ladwig¹, D&J supplied Gebr. Alexander Mainz with saxophones. This fact—combined with the strong similarities to D&J horns shown in the following photos—certainly makes me believe that what we are seeing is most likely a Dörfler & Jörka sax.
Notice how the neck is held in the socket. This round, front mounted thumb screw was a distinctive feature of D&J saxophones. Here is the same screw on a René Dumont alto.
Source: eBay.com
If you compare the shape of the left hand keys in the next 2 photos, to those of this René Dumont alto, you’ll notice that they’re identical.
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Other than the extra keys—a G# as well as a high D# triller—this photo shows a sax that is almost identical to this H. Genet alto. The only other noticeable difference that I see, is that the low C pinkie spatula keys are of slightly different shapes. The attachment arms for these spatula keys are the same though, as are the ones for the bell keys.
The key guards are the same, and have the same mother of pearl treatment. The chromatic F# key is in the same location, and has the same shape.
Source: eBay.com
The pant guard and shape of the right thumb rest on the Gebr. Alexander Mainz, are the same as on this René Dumont alto.
Source: eBay.com
The serial number fits with known D&J horns, and Made In Western Germany is what Dörfler & Jörka stamped on their saxes. Note the serial number and stamping of an Artist #300 alto made by D&J.
Source: eBay.com
While the left thumb rest looks like those found on D&J horns—like this one on my De Villiers—the thumb octave lever has a slightly different shape, and has a pearl button. The rest of the back does appear to look a lot like this Artist #300 alto.
Source: eBay.com
What these photos don’t really show well, is that this sax does have rolled tone holes like all D&J horns have. In this shot of the Gebr. Alexander Mainz’s bell however, you can see this feature.
Note too the engraving is the same on the Roxy and on the Gebr. Alexander Mainz.
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
The auction for this vintage Gebr. Alexander Mainz alto runs until September 25. Bids are to start at $490.00. At the time of writing there were no bids yet on this vintage sax.
If you’d like to find out more about Dörfler & Jörka saxophones, check out the newly updated D&J page, on the main portion of my website.
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¹ From an article originally published in the German music journal Sonic sax & brass. It was translated by me, and published, with permission, on my website.
Update: This poor horn was unsuccessfully listed and re-listed so many times that it must be getting a complex.
I lost track how many times I saw it on eBay, but its (to date) final auction saw the seller drop this vintage Gebr. Alexander Mainz alto to a starting price of $398.00. (A price drop of nearly $100.) Still no bites though. The latest auction ended on November 7 with 0 bids on this vintage sax.