[Randall]

Does anyone here have an Oscar Adler sax and if so, what can you tell me about the playing qualities?
I have a very old tenor coming that needs a repad but seems really well built.....the bell is enormous.

I have seen some Adler tenors with some very interesting, dare I say, "trill" keys, on the right hand stack.....unfortunately this horn doesn't seem to have them (from the pix).

How close are these horns to the proto B&S horns I wonder?

 

[Sterling Archer]

Bump. Anyone?

 

[Randall]

I have 2 of them now...alto and a tenor.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Cool. I'm thinking about purchasing an Oscar Adler Tenor. I haven't played in over a decade. Is there a learning curve with this horn...or would you say that it's about the same as any other?

I've scoured the web and haven't found much information about Adler's saxophones. The link on the company's current website is dead under the history section.

 

[Randall]

No learning curve with the tenor, I'd say. My tenor has very little of the extra keywork that is on the alto. The alto has all the little lever keys over the right hand stack. Heck I don't even know what they are for!
Both of my horns are in need of overhaul, so if you would be interested in a great deal on either one or an even better deal on the pair, let me know. I am reducing my collection and these two are on my list to sell.
Both are in silver plate, so they are tarnished, but will shine up just fine.

 

[spike421]

Here's some info. at the link below.

http://antiquesaxophones.blogspot.com/

 

[milandro]

I have seen the Adler altos with the keys in between the lower stack, as far as I can remember they were used to (alternatively) operate the left pinky key. I don't know if this is the case in your horn Randall.
The company still exists and they have merged with the Gebruder Monning company
http://english.moennig-adler.de/nav_f.htm
they don't produce saxophones anymore but are probably willing to assist any of you with questions.

 

[Sterling Archer]

I appreciate the feedback. I really like the looks of the one that I came across. I'll post up some pictures if it works out.

No learning curve with the tenor, I'd say. My tenor has very little of the extra keywork that is on the alto. The alto has all the little lever keys over the right hand stack. Heck I don't even know what they are for!
Both of my horns are in need of overhaul, so if you would be interested in a great deal on either one or an even better deal on the pair, let me know. I am reducing my collection and these two are on my list to sell.
Both are in silver plate, so they are tarnished, but will shine up just fine.

Thanks for the offer. The one I came across has already been gone through and is in playable condition. I'm excited to get back into playing. I haven't had a chance to do so since I was in school.

Edit: I went ahead and paid for the one that was listed on SOTW. Hopefully I'll have that in a week or so.

 

[Sterling Archer]

I got my horn a couple days ago. It plays well. I'm curious though...is there anywhere to get information on build year/serial numbers? I've been to their website (linked above), but the section for Oscar Adler & Co. history is down. I emailed the company, but from what I've read here...people don't tend to hear back from them.

 

[Alley Cat]

I'm curious though...is there anywhere to get information on build year/serial numbers? /QUOTE]

If you would like to post some 'photos, including some of the engraving, that might help with estimating the approximate year of manufacture. As I expect you already know, it's very unlikely that any reliable serial number lists have survived. There are, however, a few sources of information as well as posting on SOTW that might be able to help you.

Helen, who is one of several members of this forum that are very knowledgable about old German saxophones may be able to advise you. Her website is here.

http://bassic-sax.ca/blog/?p=21662

Uwe Ladwig is a German saxophone historian with excellent English and can be contacted via his website.

http://www.oldtime-saxophone.de

You could try posting an inquiry on the German sax forum SaxWelt in the German makes section.

http://saxwelt.de/index.php/de/home-topmenu-17/deutschland-.html

There is also a musical instrument museum in Markneuckirchen that has it's own forum where you could made an inquiry.

http://www.museum-markneukirchen.de/forum/

http://www.worldlingo.com/en/products_services/worldlingo_translator.html

If you have no luck with any of the above I'm occasionally in contact, via my ouiga board, with one of the Oscar Adler craftsmen on the other side. I could ask if he can help. Anyway, let us know how you get on and break out dem pix !

 

[Sterling Archer]

I'm curious though...is there anywhere to get information on build year/serial numbers? /QUOTE]

If you would like to post some 'photos, including some of the engraving, that might help with estimating the approximate year of manufacture. As I expect you already know, it's very unlikely that any reliable serial number lists have survived. There are, however, a few sources of information as well as posting on SOTW that might be able to help you.

Helen, who is one of several members of this forum that are very knowledgable about old German saxophones may be able to advise you. Her website is here.

http://bassic-sax.ca/blog/?p=21662

Uwe Ladwig is a German saxophone historian with excellent English and can be contacted via his website.

http://www.oldtime-saxophone.de

You could try posting an inquiry on the German sax forum SaxWelt in the German makes section.

http://saxwelt.de/index.php/de/home-topmenu-17/deutschland-.html

There is also a musical instrument museum in Markneuckirchen that has it's own forum where you could made an inquiry.

http://www.museum-markneukirchen.de/forum/

http://www.worldlingo.com/en/products_services/worldlingo_translator.html

If you have no luck with any of the above I'm occasionally in contact, via my ouiga board, with one of the Oscar Adler craftsmen on the other side. I could ask if he can help. Anyway, let us know how you get on and break out dem pix !

Thank you for the info. I saw Helens website earlier today and emailed her. That museum website looks promising. It doesn't look like there's a way to change the language view though (English...in my case).

"Gloria" is on the bell. From translating a few different websites...ive found out that was one of their standard models. The neck, which i'm assuming is original, has a micro-tuner.

As you said... I get the impression that there is no surviving serial number list. Ill modify this with a picture later... I'm on my wife's ipad at the moment and i'm doing well to just figure out the keyboard at the moment. Lol.

 

[Alley Cat]

If you google museum-markneukirchen.de you should be offered an version of the site translated, or mangled, into English.

http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...h?q=museum-markneukirchen.de&hl=en&prmd=imvns

 

[Sterling Archer]

If you google museum-markneukirchen.de you should be offered an version of the site translated, or mangled, into English.

http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...h?q=museum-markneukirchen.de&hl=en&prmd=imvns

Thanks. I went ahead and posted up a thread over there. If I can't find an answer there, it's safe to say that one doesn't exist.

 

[Alley Cat]

I'd be interested to know if anyone can pin it down more accurately than to say it's a mid to late 1930's design. As has been said before, so many of these pre-war German and Czech instruments are almost identical with few distinctive features. Your Adler certainly looks in very fine condition and, if it's been well set up, I for one, would very much prefer to have this as my main horn than anything else being being produced today. I would expect it to have a very beautiful dark, husky tone. Just what I like !

 

[Sterling Archer]

I'd be interested to know if anyone can pin it down more accurately than to say it's a mid to late 1930's design. As has been said before, so many of these pre-war German and Czech instruments are almost identical with few distinctive features. Your Adler certainly looks in very fine condition and, if it's been well set up, I for one, would very much prefer to have this as my main horn than anything else being being produced today. I would expect it to have a very beautiful dark, husky tone. Just what I like !

Yup. That's the closest estimate that I've gotten so far. It does closely resemble other German and Czech horns of the period.

I do enjoy the tone. I just started out again after 14 years away. If not for that, I'd be happy to post up a sound clip.

 

[Sterling Archer]

I got a response from Dr. Enrico Weller of the Markneukirchen museum. From looking at the other threads that he's responded in, it sounds like the serial number isn't going to help narrow it down any.

Hello John,

your saxophone may be from the 1950th. “Gloria” was one of the middle class models of the Adler factory.

Please look here for further information:

Ladwig, Uwe: Saxofone, Wahlwies 2011, p. 128-135.

… and in older entries in this forum:

http://museum-markneukirchen.de/forum/v ... phon#p2271

http://museum-markneukirchen.de/forum/v ... phon#p1792

http://museum-markneukirchen.de/forum/v ... ophon#p841


Best regards

Enrico

 

[Alley Cat]

I'm surprised that Dr. Enrico Weller has suggested your Adler may be from the 1950's. Lots of earlier designs did continue into the post-war period. If this was one of them, you might as well say, in the absence of serial numbers, that it could have been made at any time between, say, 1937 and 1952. Why is Dr. Weller suggesting the 1950's ? Is that the only time that the "Gloria" was in production ? An email to Uwe Ladwig may be more fruitful. Unfortunately for us with English only, Uwe's book, "Saxophon" is written in German.

http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...?q=www.oldtime-saxophone.de/&hl=en&prmd=imvns

 

[Sterling Archer]

I'm surprised that Dr. Enrico Weller has suggested your Adler may be from the 1950's. Lots of earlier designs did continue into the post-war period. If this was one of them, you might as well say, in the absence of serial numbers, that it could have been made at any time between, say, 1937 and 1952. Why is Dr. Weller suggesting the 1950's ? Is that the only time that the "Gloria" was in production ? An email to Uwe Ladwig may be more fruitful. Unfortunately for us with English only, Uwe's book, "Saxophon" is written in German.

http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...?q=www.oldtime-saxophone.de/&hl=en&prmd=imvns

I took it that the "Gloria" was primarily made in the 50's. The engraving on this horn is more detailed than the earlier horns that I've seen online (i.e. "Rasco"). That's just a "my $.02" thing though. That and given his position at the museum and location..he's in a better position to know more about Adler horns than most.

Yup. I saw that. If it wasn't ~$90 (U.S.D.) I'd buy it and just translate the eight pages that he suggested. I was just curious. Definitely not $90 curious though.:mrgreen:

 

[Alley Cat]

That and given his position at the museum and location..he's in a better position to know more about Adler horns than most.

You would think so. Frankly, I'm far from convinced that your Gloria, with it's micro-tuner etc, was built as recently as the 1950's. It's entirely up to you but an email to Uwe Ladwig might be worth considering. I've had dealings with Uwe and he's very friendly, helpful and, as I mentioned earlier, writes perfect English.

 

[JayeLID]

I never thought it to be a '50's or later horn...although honestly I was basing this on nothing other than the details of the horn...which really appear pre-war to me in their specs and manufacture.

I have an Alto engraved "Bleistadt" which is almost identical in detailing to the Gloria, except with opposite-side bellkeys. This horn most definitely is a pre-'50's and it seems the same pedigree as the Gloria....

Would be interested in seeing what Uwe would say, and whether or not this is based on informed speculation or whether he actually has some records to go off of.....