Also be aware that the serial numbers below weren't just for C-Melody saxes, each instrument produced was assigned a sequential unique number, so (for example) in Jan-1924, 60993 could have been a Tenor Sax, 60994 a C-Mel, 60995 a Soprano, etc. at least that's how I understand it?
The Martin Companies
Frank Holton and Co.
Vincent Bach
Plant changes at Bach - 2017
Col. C.G. Conn & Co.
Harry Pedler Companies
Boston Musical Instrument Co.
Bohland&Fuchs stencils
Sistek Music and Cleveland
Ross Hickernell
F. Millard Company
Willard Bryant - Rex*
O.F. Berdan - Detroit
Connections Among Makers
Getzen History Chart
Fred Forman's cornet
Cold War Collectives
HN White - first for students
HN White's first cornet product
Study - Instrumental Inheritance (pdf)
Evolution of the Modern Trumpet (pdf)
Drum & Bugle Corps Origins
Birmingham [Mi] Bands (pdf)
H.N. White Co's History of the Trumpet and Cornet (1924)
Jim Donaldson's biography of Renold Schilke at EverythingTrumpet.com
Niles Eldredge's Brief History of Piston Valved Cornets at Nick DeCarlis' VintageCornets.Com
Dale Olson's History of F.E. Olds at Robb Stewart's site
CG Conn History articles at the Conn Loyalist
Contempora Corner histories of F.A. Reynolds
Chris Charvat's HN White History
Woodwind & Brass Co (Britain) history of Antoine Cortois
Mitruolia/Myers The Distin Family
Robb Stewart's biography of Earl Williams
Jari Villenueva's History of Taps
After performing professional engagements with Sousa’s great band, Frank Holton opened up a small shop in Chicago in 1896, selling second hand instruments and his secret recipe of Electric Oil trombone slide oil. For the first two years, business was tight and Holton would spend evenings and weekends performing just to draw a salary to support his business. By 1898, business had sustained itself to the point that Holton could hire an instrument maker to begin making what he introduced as the “Holton Special” trombone. As business grew, his “Holton Harmony Hints” catalogue increased in size to include trombones, cornets, valve trombones, and mellophones by 1904.
Business continued to grow and Holton’s instruments became the choice of top professionals including Vincent Bach, first trumpet for the Boston Symphony in 1914 (before he began building his own instruments in 1918). In 1917, Holton signed an agreement with the city of Elkhorn, Wisconsin to build a factory. In the agreement, a provision was made that if Holton paid out $500,000 in wages over seven years to support the community workforce, he would be granted the title to the land and building. Holton met this obligation in 1920.
Frank Holton Trumpet Serial Numbers
- Holton alto sax. Serial number 25743. Source: eBay.com. If you own a Holton saxophone, and are looking for information about what year it was made, the SOTW-hosted Holton serial number chart is just what you’re looking for.
- Saxophone.org - created by saxophone players for saxophone players. Features an active saxophone forum, buy sell trade your sax, saxophone museum, sax teachers and more.
In June 1919, to inspire a stronger workforce to move from Chicago to Elkhorn, Holton bought seventeen acres and contracted 27 houses built to offer to his employees. Production of top line professional instruments continued to grow. In 1929, Holton introduced a complete line of school grade instruments under the Holton Collegiate name.
Saxophone Serial Numbers | Sax Gourmet
In 1939, Frank Holton sold his company to Fred Kull, a company employee. In 1942, Frank Holton passed away. Throughout World War II as most manufacturers did, the Holton Company turned to making components for the military. As the war ended, the Holton Company saw steady growth. In 1964, after pressures to offer a complete range of woodwind instruments, the Holton Company sold to G. Leblanc Corporation.
Cached
During Leblanc’s ownership, Holton would rise as a leader in low brass manufacturing. With the support of well known artists such as Philip Farkas and Ethel Merker; Holton’s French horns became increasingly popular. Manufacturing of Holton instruments was retained in Elkhorn, Wisconsin until 2008 when it was relocated to Eastlake, Ohio.