{"id":4130,"date":"2011-09-06T13:19:08","date_gmt":"2011-09-06T20:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/?page_id=4130"},"modified":"2025-06-19T10:17:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T17:17:04","slug":"hohner-brochure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/vintage-saxes\/european-made-saxes\/hohner-president\/hohner-brochure\/","title":{"rendered":"Hohner Brochure – circa 1950"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hohner<\/a><\/p>\n

Updated 2025<\/h6>\n

In September, 2011, I picked up this rather interesting promotional brochure from Hohner, which extols the virtues of their President saxophones. On the back there is also a list of all the various accessories which could be purchased for the horns.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately there is no date of publication on this pamphlet, therefore we don\u2019t know exactly when it was printed. However, based on the features illustrated on the instrument, we have to assume it came from the first couple of years (1949-51) of the brand’s production. Why? Because in my 15+ years researching the brand, of the earliest Phase 1 examples I have seen (21xx from 1952) don’t look exactly like this. <\/p>\n

So let’s take a look at how the then Matthias Hohner AG\u2014from Trossingen, Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, Germany\u2014described these unique, fine professional saxophones designed by, Max Keilwerth, in what may well be their earliest brochure.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Hohner<\/a><\/p>\n

Two things immediately jump out at me on this page<\/h5>\n
    \n
  1. The promoted horns do not offer a high F# option. Obviously this feature came later in the President\u2019s production run. The earliest example I have encountered thus far is tenor 4549, which is circa 1955. <\/li>\n
  2. Was anyone else struck by the fact Hohner felt the need to note that the President had an automatic octave key? President production began at Hohner\u2014under the guidance and watchful eye of Max Keilwerth\u2014in 1949. Automatic octave keys were invented by A. Lecomte and Co. in 1888, and were standard on German horns since what, 1920 or so? I have not seen a MK horn without an automatic octave key.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Maybe it\u2019s kind of a lost in translation<\/em> issue. (Like so many other things in this brochure; for example, shake = trill.) German saxophones were among the most advanced horns on the planet. To have to advertise 1 instead of 2 octave keys seems a bit odd to say the least IMO.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Features, or lack thereof, that indicate date of publication<\/h3>\n
    Unusual neck & bow guards<\/h5>\n

    The tenor illustrated on this page, and the alto illustrated on the next page, have a couple of features that I have not seen before on Hohner Presidents:<\/p>\n