I simply love this Forum.
Me Too!
I have been confused about the Tone Edge pieces for some while and seen a fair bit written where post can contradict each other.
My recent curiosity after acquisition of tone edge pieces has bought me to this thread.
Post 3 has helped a lot as long as this stands for tenor pieces too.
After the generations of SLANT SIGNATURE models (which are easily recognisable and has descriptions that are widely available on the web...check out Theo Wannes mouthpiece museum) came
generations of Tone edges that changed over the years and were made in different locations as the factory moved premises.
My understanding is now this....
After the Slant sigs
The 1st Tone Edges had
Straight sig
Had the same blank as the latest slant sigs .
These had horizontal milling lines on the table.
A defined baffle often with a shape described as a clamshell.
Large font U.S.A on the shank & number on the side of the body.
A steep and almost over hanging curve at the rear of the beak as it meets the body.
Has also been called
Slant Body or Florida Blank.
There was an alteration at approximately this time /slightly later where production techniques changed and the milling marks became vertical and the tip rail was fatter.
Came in 121 S.W. FITH STREET boxes.
The 2nd Tone Edges had
Straight sig
A defined baffle often with a shape described as a clamshell.
This had a slimmer body than the 1st straight sig version.
The font size on the U.S.A. and side of the body was smaller.
These came in 21 S.W. FITH STREET. Boxes which are white with orange writing.
They retain a tonal character like the 1st version.
Still had the steep curve at the rear of the beak.
The 3rd Tone Edges had
Straight sig
Still the defined baffle often with a shape described as a clamshell.
Were shorter and fatter than the previous version.
They retained the small U.S.A. font and steep curve at the rear of the beak.
Vertical milling marks on the reed table.
White with orange writing. Address may have changed to Elkhart IN, and 2201 Industrial Parkway?
The 4th Tone Edges had
Straight sig
Gained a casting number (typically a 1 or a 2) inside the chamber on the underside of the reed table which can be really hard to see. You'll need good light and possibly a magnifying eye glass to see it.
They lost some baffle definition.
And by the look of one I have in front of me now that fits this description ....
They also lost some of the steep angle on the back of the beak.
The window area immediately behind the tip is narrower than its predecessors.
The milling marks on the table are vertical.
They keep the small font for the U.S.A on the shank and the number on the side of the body.
White with orange writing.
Address?
Almost sure, Elkhart IN, and 2201 Industrial Parkway
The 5th Tone Edges had
Straight sig
These are what the current models stem from where the material composition changed away from the rubber to a more plastic evolution.
The baffle is all but non evident or even concave behind the tip.
There is profile change from the 4th version in particular the steep curve at the beak is now much more shallow.
Typically they have a muddy sound or tend to feel more stuffy due to the lack of baffle/manufacture quality.
Possible that slight changes have continued from the onset of this version to todays ?
White with orange writing. Address '2201 Industrial Parkway Elkhart In'
EDIT: 21st August 2012
Ref post #7 from Zenben,
The PT/SP/V models slot in here.
Thanks to Tim Glesmann @ SAX ALLEY for helping me out here and supplying some of the following information.
Introduced in....???
Made from a different blank than standard hard rubber links.
PT = Paul Tenney
SP = Special
V = Vintage
They were hand finished by a babbitt employee.
The PT and SP were essentially the same piece and the Vintage had chamber and baffle work more in line with gaining the sound the name suggests.
They stopped producing them when the New Vintage Slant was introduced.
So the numbering below shifts out how ever you feel it best to make sense of it and as this thread is a work in progress it could be especially good to refer to the date of each post you read it.
(Hopefully a tidy version will be created as facts appear).
EDIT CLOSE:
The 6th Tone Edge
Introduced around 2009?
Also known as the 'New Vintage Slant'
Still available at the time of writing this post.
Made as a 90th anniversary model with a 'large link' chain decoration at the front of the body.
The signature is slanted.
Changes internally to recapture earlier character.
More baffle.
Changes externally from current production.
Serial number added to the side of the body.
Sold in an Orange Box with white writing. Address '2201 Industrial Parkway Elkhart In'.
The 7th Tone edge Exclusively sold by Tenor Madness.
Introduced 2010?
The core is believed to have been made from a mould that was originally used during the Early Babbitt years.
It has since been permanently retired.
Variation exists from one piece to the next due to the state of the tool.
Straight sig.
Return of the steep curve at the back of the beak.
All the white cosmetic markings are as Earlier versions.
Increased baffle with a defined shape like earlier versions often described as a clamshell.
Sold in an White Box with Orange writing. Address '2201 Industrial Parkway Elkhart In'.
The 8th Tone Edge Exclusively sold by Tenor Madness.
Coming soon!! late 2012.
Made from a mould that was created from the best half dozen examples of the 7th Tone edge that are favoured by Tenor Madness.
EDIT Sept 2015.... rumours circulating since maybe April that these are finally being produced as a first batch but Tenor Madness website has still not changed. Prototypes?
I'd love to know if anyone can date these changes, help take the question marks out of my post, add to or dispel information and confirm which versions are Florida from EB from current production.
Also when did they stop being Florida (straight sig) tone edges and become EB's (or were they always EB's)? was it right on the change to straight sigs? it wouldn't appear so from the box address given in post #3 but thats how I read the Theo Wanne information.
So far from the information it makes sense to me that version 1 & 2 are Florida made.
Version 3 EB
Version 4 later EB
Version 5 Babbitt current production
For what its worth, my Tenor Madness EB remake looks the same over all length as version 2 and 4 but has a shorter body making for a longer shank.
