{"id":45693,"date":"2017-03-02T10:52:42","date_gmt":"2017-03-02T18:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=45693"},"modified":"2024-06-24T10:10:12","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T17:10:12","slug":"just-what-do-we-know-about-f-kohler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/2017\/just-what-do-we-know-about-f-kohler\/","title":{"rendered":"Just What Do We Know About F. K\u00f6hler?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"F.<\/a>
Empor tenor # 2244 Source: saxobrainiac on eBay.de<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over the past few years I have been doing my best to research some of the best, and in some cases the most obscure, saxophone manufactures who were in operation in Germany during the 1900s. F. K\u00f6hler certainly fits into both these categories, since not only did they build some exceptional saxophones during the early to mid-1900s, but they also were among the most obscure manufacturers\u2014yet still had a rather profound influence on German saxophone design and production.<\/p>\n

I started researching Franz K\u00f6hler quite a few years ago, but found very little information on the man. It took quite a long time to piece together enough information so that I could publish a page dedicated to F. K\u00f6hler saxophones<\/a> on my website.<\/p>\n

One thing that appears to be confusing for English audiences is the similarity of the K\u00f6hler name to another German saxophone manufacturer: Kohlert. To add further confusion, the umlaut over the “o” in K\u00f6hler, makes it harder to search for the name without a German keyboard on or in one’s computer.<\/p>\n

Even if a person looking for info on F. K\u00f6hler were to copy & paste the man’s name into a search engine, the returns would be surprisingly thin. Sure, there are references to F. K\u00f6hler horns on places like SOTW\u2014where owners are trying to glean info on their acquisition, or trying to sell their saxes\u2014but verifiable info (not simple opinion) is hard to come by.<\/p>\n

Between what Uwe Ladwig published in his book, Saxophone: Ein Kompendium<\/em>, and what Dr. Enrico Weller, from the Musikinstrumentenmuseums Markneukirchen, has written on the museum’s forum in reply to questions, I was able to piece together enough information that answered the most basic of questions about F. K\u00f6hler saxophones, and their history. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why are some F. K\u00f6hler horns stamped MIGMA and others not?<\/h2>\n
\"F.<\/a>
Source: thesax.info<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MIGMA is an acronym for: the Musikinstrumenten-Handwerker-Genossenschaft Markneukirchen. Translated that would mean: Musical Instrument Manufacturer\u2019s Cooperative Markneukirchen.<\/p>\n

MIGMA is not a manufacturer of instruments, rather they partner with master craftsmen and dealers specializing in instruments from Markneukirchen. According to former page on MIGMA\u2019s site<\/a>, since 1943 they have been marketing, selling, and distributing: strings, bows, guitars, brass winds, Orff instruments, drummer\u2019s sticks and mallets, accessories, as well as component parts.<\/p>\n

Franz K\u00f6hler was a MIGMA member from 1954 to 1962.<\/p>\n

One of the mysteries surrounding the F. K\u00f6hler saxophones is the almost seemingly random engraving of the MIGMA name.<\/p>\n

Not counting stencils, F. K\u00f6hler built only one model of saxophone: the Empor. This Empor model was built in not only alto and tenor versions, but later also in soprano and baritone voices as well.<\/p>\n

Looking through the limited F. K\u00f6hler saxophones that I have been able to locate for Bassic Sax Pix<\/a>, you will notice that most do not carry both the MIGMA and Empor engraving.<\/p>\n