{"id":7202,"date":"2014-01-08T11:31:05","date_gmt":"2014-01-08T18:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/?page_id=7202"},"modified":"2021-01-04T15:52:54","modified_gmt":"2021-01-04T17:52:54","slug":"wolfram","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/vintage-saxes\/european-made-saxes\/wolfram\/","title":{"rendered":"Wolfram"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"tenor<\/a>
Wolfram tenor saxophone, MIGMA engraved. Source: blechjeck13 on eBay.de<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Company beginnings<\/span><\/p>\n

Oswald Wolfram founded his company in 1945, after working for Eugen Schuster<\/a> in the area of saxophone production. Oswald began his company with the manufacturing of brasswinds, with saxophone production starting in 1948. Between 1945 – 1948, Oswald’s son, Siegfried, worked for his father and learned the trade of brass instrument maker. He followed this with saxophone builder, and by 1952 had earned his Master Craftsman’s diploma in saxophone manufacturing.<\/p>\n

In 1956 Oswald split the business with his son. Oswald took over the brasswind division and built brass instruments until 1965, while Siegfried assumed the saxophone division. Until 1966 the company operated under its own name, although often the saxophones carried the extra name MIGMA.1<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Below are two horns that illustrate different engraving on Siegfried Wolfram saxophones. The first has no MIGMA engraving, only the name Siegfried Wolfram.<\/p>\n

\"tenor<\/a>
Siegfried Wolfram tenor saxophone. Source: qualityresponsible on eBay.de<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The second doesn’t have the Wolfram name at all, only MIGMA on the bell.<\/p>\n

\"tenor<\/a>
MIGMA bell engraving on Wolfram tenor sax. Source: blechjeck13 on eBay.de<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wolfram joins PGH\/Sinfonia<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1966 Wolfram joined the Produktionsgenossenschaft des Handwerks\u2014the English translation of which would be: the manufacturing cooperative of skilled trades\u2014(PGH\/Sinfonia). Joining PGH\/Sinfonia (which would become VEB Sinfonia in 1972) resulted in a fundamental restructuring of the way their musical instruments were produced.2<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

As a result of joining PGH\/Sinfonia, fewer Wolfram saxophones were produced each year, until, in 1969, saxophone production ceased altogether. Afterwards, as part of PGH\/Sinfonia, Siegfried Wolfram specialized in the production of saxophone parts such as keys. In 1990, Siegfried Wolfram once again became an independent entrepreneur, and specialized in the area of component parts for musical instruments. His company continuously expanded the range of articles that they produced, and since 2007 Siegfried’s  grandson, Franz, has run the company<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Facts & Figures<\/span><\/p>\n

In each of the 21 years (1948-1969) that the Wolfram saxophones were in production, there were approximately 50 altos and tenors made. (Somewhat less during their PGH\/Sinfonia years.) They had rolled tone holes, but did not have serial numbers, nor a particular brand name. These saxes were mostly sold in Eastern bloc countries.<\/p>\n

Finishes available<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the communications3<\/sup><\/a> that Uwe Ladwig had with members of the Wolfram family, the following finishes were available:<\/p>\n