Julius Keilwerth
Encyclopedia
The Julius Keilwerth company, now merged with W. Schreiber & Söhne as Schreiber & Keilwerth Musikinstrumente GmbH, is a German saxophone
manufacturer, established in 1925. Over the years it has made saxophones under the Conn
, H. Couf, and Armstrong brands, and currently as Julius Keilwerth.
. After World War II, the company relocated to its present headquarters at Nauheim, near Frankfurt
, Germany
.
, for many years the vice president of the W. T. Armstrong Company, imported three models of Keilwerth saxophones to the United States; they were stenciled (engraved) with the model name "H. Couf". They were sold in the U.S. under this name from approximately 1965 until 1988. The model names were "Superba I", "Superba II" and "Royalist". These instruments largely corresponded to previous Keilwerth models as follows:
The Superba I and II were mostly built to order, so purchasers had the option of special features and finish, such as low A bass, black nickel plate, and custom engraving. The same instruments were also stenciled for Conn under the name "DJH Modified".
Keilwerth also manufactured the body for another line of saxophones stenciled "Armstrong". Later "Armstrong" saxophones were built by the Armstrong company alone.
, Courtney Pine
, Ernie Watts
, James Moody
, Ron Holloway
, Mike Smith and David Liebman.
Boosey & Hawkes
purchased Keilwerth in 1989 and merged the company with Schreiber in 1996. The combined company was sold to The Music Group
in 2003. In 2006 The Music Group was broken up. Schreiber & Keilwerth became an independent company. In March 2010, Schreiber & Keilwerth filed for insolvency. On the 1st of August 2010 they were subsequently acquired by Buffet Crampon
.
to bass
saxophones.
The ST90 student range, the EX90 intermediate range and the SX90 and SX90R professional range - the latter featuring soldered-on tonehole rings (as opposed to more typical drawn toneholes), and available both in standard brass or in black nickel-plated nickel silver
(the SX90R Shadow range).
Various changes in production of the ST90 and EX90 series have taken place.
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
manufacturer, established in 1925. Over the years it has made saxophones under the Conn
C. G. Conn
C.G. Conn Ltd., sometimes called Conn Instruments or commonly just Conn, was a United States manufacturer of musical instruments, especially brass instruments. In 1985 their Strobotuner division was bought by Peterson Electro-Musical Products, who continue to service their line of products.Assets...
, H. Couf, and Armstrong brands, and currently as Julius Keilwerth.
Early history
The early history of the Julius Keilwerth company is unclear. The company itself cites its date of foundation as 1925, with no mention of location; other sources state that the company was initially founded in present-day Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. After World War II, the company relocated to its present headquarters at Nauheim, near Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Export to the U.S.
Herbert CoufHerbert Couf
Herbert "Herb" Couf was an American clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, former music store owner, former music instrument manufacturer executive, and former importer of music instruments...
, for many years the vice president of the W. T. Armstrong Company, imported three models of Keilwerth saxophones to the United States; they were stenciled (engraved) with the model name "H. Couf". They were sold in the U.S. under this name from approximately 1965 until 1988. The model names were "Superba I", "Superba II" and "Royalist". These instruments largely corresponded to previous Keilwerth models as follows:
- The New King (professional model) as H. Couf Royalist (alto and tenor)
- Toneking (professional model) as H. Couf Superba II (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass)
- Toneking Special (top professional model) as H. Couf Superba I (alto and tenor) made with rolled toneholes and sophisticated keywork.
The Superba I and II were mostly built to order, so purchasers had the option of special features and finish, such as low A bass, black nickel plate, and custom engraving. The same instruments were also stenciled for Conn under the name "DJH Modified".
Keilwerth also manufactured the body for another line of saxophones stenciled "Armstrong". Later "Armstrong" saxophones were built by the Armstrong company alone.
Changes in ownership
In 1986, jazz saxophonist Peter Ponzol was hired as a consultant to refine and redesign Keilwerth saxophones for the jazz market. By the end of the 1980s, Keilwerth had introduced its SX90R series and gained endorsements from jazz musicians such as Branford MarsalisBranford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
, Courtney Pine
Courtney Pine
Courtney Pine CBE is an English jazz musician. At school he studied the clarinet, although he is known primarily for his saxophone playing. Pine is a multi-instrumentalist, also playing the flute, clarinet, bass Clarinet and keyboards...
, Ernie Watts
Ernie Watts
Ernest James "Ernie" Watts is an American jazz and rhythm and blues musician. He plays saxophone and flute. He might be best known for his work with Charlie Haden's Quartet West and his Grammy Awards as an instrumentalist...
, James Moody
James Moody (saxophonist)
James Moody was an American jazz saxophone and flute player. He was best known for his hit "Moody's Mood for Love," an improvisation based on "I'm in the Mood for Love"; in performance, he often improvised vocals for the tune.-Biography:James Moody was born in Savannah, Georgia...
, Ron Holloway
Ron Holloway
Ronald Edward "Ron" Holloway is an American tenor saxophonist. He is listed in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz where veteran jazz critic Ira Gitler described Holloway as a "bear-down-hard-bopper who can blow authentic R&B and croon a ballad with warm, blue feeling." Holloway is the recipient...
, Mike Smith and David Liebman.
Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and wind musical instruments....
purchased Keilwerth in 1989 and merged the company with Schreiber in 1996. The combined company was sold to The Music Group
The Music Group
The Music Group was a European parent company which owned several musical instrument manufacturers which were formerly part of the music division of the Boosey & Hawkes Group.* Besson * Buffet Crampon...
in 2003. In 2006 The Music Group was broken up. Schreiber & Keilwerth became an independent company. In March 2010, Schreiber & Keilwerth filed for insolvency. On the 1st of August 2010 they were subsequently acquired by Buffet Crampon
Buffet Crampon
Buffet Crampon et Compagnie is a French manufacturer of woodwind musical instruments, including oboes, flutes, saxophones, and bassoons; however, the company is perhaps most famous for their clarinets, as Buffet is the brand of choice for many professionals....
.
Product range
As of 2009, Julius Keilwerth markets a range of student, intermediate and professional saxophones, from the sopranoSoprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
to bass
Bass saxophone
The bass saxophone is the second largest member of the saxophone family. Its design is similar to that of the baritone saxophone, with a loop of tubing near the mouthpiece. It was the first type of saxophone presented to the public, when Adolphe Sax exhibited a bass saxophone in C at an exhibition...
saxophones.
The ST90 student range, the EX90 intermediate range and the SX90 and SX90R professional range - the latter featuring soldered-on tonehole rings (as opposed to more typical drawn toneholes), and available both in standard brass or in black nickel-plated nickel silver
Nickel silver
Nickel silver, also known as German silver, Argentann, new silver, nickel brass, albata,, or alpacca, is a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc. Nickel silver is named for its silvery appearance, but it contains no elemental silver...
(the SX90R Shadow range).
Various changes in production of the ST90 and EX90 series have taken place.
- SX90: made in Germany by Keilwerth.
- EX90 series I: made in Germany by Keilwerth.
- EX90 series II: made in Germany by Keilwerth.
- EX90 series III: Parts made in Germany by Keilwerth. Assembly and finishing by Amati in the Czech Republic.
- ST90 series I: made in Germany by Keilwerth.
- ST90 series II: Parts made in Germany by Keilwerth. Assembly and finishing by Amati in the Czech Republic.
- ST90 series III: Made in Taiwan. Assembled in Taiwan.
- ST90 series IV: made in Taiwan by KHSKHS Musical InstrumentsKHS Musical Instruments Co., Ltd was founded in Taiwan in 1930 as an educational products company, and gained success in the 1950s as a producer of musical instruments...
.