Pete
11-21-2005, 07:17 PM
* A400/T400 (http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/sml/stencils/T400andA400/) are Asian-made horns that use the SML name and logo. In 2003, the SML Sales Manager posted here (http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2353) that this company was issued a cease-and-desist order for using the SML name without authorization.
* Heimer/Parker are the names of an Asian company from about 10 or so years ago that seems to have either purchased the Gold Medal tooling or decided to manufacture horns that had the same look as a Gold medal. These horns are low-quality student models and their parts are not interchangeable with the Gold Medal. (Longer writeup at http://www.saxpics.com/sml/sml_stencils.htm.)
* King Lemaire is the name of an Amati Classic Super stencil. King (HN White) used the Lemaire name because they marketed an SML stencil of the Gold Medal called the Marigaux. (Longer writeup at http://www.saxpics.com/sml/sml_stencils.htm.)
* "Rev." refers to "Revision". SML used model names on only their early horns, Standards, Supers and the Gold Medals. To compile a model chart (see http://www.saxpics.com/sml/sml22.htm), I grouped these horns by their feature sets. So, for example, all "Rev. A" horns have close to the same features, regardless of what is engraved on the bell. Again, "Rev." was not an official model name from SML; it's just a convenient method of referring to models that have the same feature set.
* "SML" stands for Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire. Charles Strasser was a businessman who was born in Switzerland; Jules-Appolin Marigaux was an instrument maker who trained at Buffet-Crampon; and Lemaire was a clarinet maker (and no, no one seems to know his first name).
* "Standard" (http://www.saxpics.com/sml/standard.htm) is a model-set of SML horns. In my research, I found that if you were looking at, say, a Gold Medal, the Standard version of the Gold Medal would have the same look, feel and feature set of a Rev. D, the model that came right before the Gold Medal. It was SML's way of saying that they had an "intermediate model", which was really a re-engraved older pro model.
* Sterling Silver Bell is a posited feature on some SML's, based on a post in the distant past that probably referred to an SML bass clarinet. The reasoning is: King (HN White) stenciled the Gold Medal in the form of the Marigaux. Some SML's were available with a sterling neck. King offered the Silver-Sonic with a sterling bell, therefore King may have ordered some Marigauxs with sterling bells. I've not found any pictoral or catalog evidence to support this configuration.
* Switchable "Articulated" G# (http://www.saxpics.com/sml/22_features/10/off.jpg) is a key mechanism that SML used on their horns from the late Super 47 and newer -- and is found on many Beaugnier and Kohlert horns. Listed as one of the "22 Features".
* The "22 Features" are features that SML claimed as "unique" for their Gold Medal model. They are discussed in great depth -- and with pictures -- at http://www.saxpics.com/sml/sml22.htm.
* Two-Tone (or "2-Tone") refers to a premium finish choice found on SML's from Rev. D and newer. This is a lacquer body and nickel-plated keywork (http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/sml/revd/Tenor/2_tone/148xx_cs/SML148xxTenor_comp.jpg). Occasionally, and incorrectly, "two tone" is used to describe a silver plated horn that has gold highlights (http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/sml/reva/models/sml/tenor/silver_gold_highlights/23xx_vs/3.jpg) and/or keywork.
* Heimer/Parker are the names of an Asian company from about 10 or so years ago that seems to have either purchased the Gold Medal tooling or decided to manufacture horns that had the same look as a Gold medal. These horns are low-quality student models and their parts are not interchangeable with the Gold Medal. (Longer writeup at http://www.saxpics.com/sml/sml_stencils.htm.)
* King Lemaire is the name of an Amati Classic Super stencil. King (HN White) used the Lemaire name because they marketed an SML stencil of the Gold Medal called the Marigaux. (Longer writeup at http://www.saxpics.com/sml/sml_stencils.htm.)
* "Rev." refers to "Revision". SML used model names on only their early horns, Standards, Supers and the Gold Medals. To compile a model chart (see http://www.saxpics.com/sml/sml22.htm), I grouped these horns by their feature sets. So, for example, all "Rev. A" horns have close to the same features, regardless of what is engraved on the bell. Again, "Rev." was not an official model name from SML; it's just a convenient method of referring to models that have the same feature set.
* "SML" stands for Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire. Charles Strasser was a businessman who was born in Switzerland; Jules-Appolin Marigaux was an instrument maker who trained at Buffet-Crampon; and Lemaire was a clarinet maker (and no, no one seems to know his first name).
* "Standard" (http://www.saxpics.com/sml/standard.htm) is a model-set of SML horns. In my research, I found that if you were looking at, say, a Gold Medal, the Standard version of the Gold Medal would have the same look, feel and feature set of a Rev. D, the model that came right before the Gold Medal. It was SML's way of saying that they had an "intermediate model", which was really a re-engraved older pro model.
* Sterling Silver Bell is a posited feature on some SML's, based on a post in the distant past that probably referred to an SML bass clarinet. The reasoning is: King (HN White) stenciled the Gold Medal in the form of the Marigaux. Some SML's were available with a sterling neck. King offered the Silver-Sonic with a sterling bell, therefore King may have ordered some Marigauxs with sterling bells. I've not found any pictoral or catalog evidence to support this configuration.
* Switchable "Articulated" G# (http://www.saxpics.com/sml/22_features/10/off.jpg) is a key mechanism that SML used on their horns from the late Super 47 and newer -- and is found on many Beaugnier and Kohlert horns. Listed as one of the "22 Features".
* The "22 Features" are features that SML claimed as "unique" for their Gold Medal model. They are discussed in great depth -- and with pictures -- at http://www.saxpics.com/sml/sml22.htm.
* Two-Tone (or "2-Tone") refers to a premium finish choice found on SML's from Rev. D and newer. This is a lacquer body and nickel-plated keywork (http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/sml/revd/Tenor/2_tone/148xx_cs/SML148xxTenor_comp.jpg). Occasionally, and incorrectly, "two tone" is used to describe a silver plated horn that has gold highlights (http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/sml/reva/models/sml/tenor/silver_gold_highlights/23xx_vs/3.jpg) and/or keywork.