Last Updated on September 16, 2022
When did Selmer-Conn buy Buescher? How did the Buescher brand end? This article covers the history of Buescher and the saxophones that the brand produced, from its early beginnings in the 1920s until 1981, when the company was bought by Conn-Selmer. It also covers the concept behind the Buescher sound. It is important to note that Buescher produced instruments one model at a time, with a limited number of models.
Conn-Selmer bought out Buescher in 1981
A merger of Conn and Selmer in 1981 merged two large musical instrument manufacturers into a single entity. Selmer had been the largest wind instrument manufacturer in the United States, making and distributing a number of famous and historic names. Founded in Elkhart, Indiana, the new company was initially part of United Musical Instruments, but later sold its interest in United to Steinway.
Founded in 1910 by two German immigrants, the Ludwig Drum Company is the largest producer of brass instruments. Initially, the company made trumpets but later expanded its product line to include timpani and marimba instruments. The company was acquired by Magnavox in the late 1960s. In 1975, Magnavox sold Selmer to Philips Electronics. Several years later, Philips sold the company to Integrated Resources, which eventually bought out Burzycki. After the sale to Integrated Resources, the company was run by Robert Palmer, with Rocco Giglio as vice chairman.
A real estate investment firm purchased Selmer in 1988. Within a year of the acquisition, Integrated Resources Inc. sought bankruptcy protection. This financial setback hurt Selmer’s sales by seven percent during the 1990s. Although the company survived the merger, it was a difficult period for the company. Its management had to deal with a plethora of debt and sabotage.
Buescher made saxophones
Before the late 1930s, Buescher made saxophonists on its own. The company was founded by former Conn saxophone designer Gus Buescher, who produced a line of professionally made instruments called the Aristocrat. It also produced a student line of instruments called the Elkhart. Many famous saxophonists used Bueschers, including Duke Ellington’s alto man.
Until around serial number 5000, Buescher saxophones used key touches without rollers. By serial number 5000, they were equipped with pearl key touches on the main stacks. Around serial number 78,000, they switched to a four-roller system. Then, around serial number 200,000, they switched to brown rollers, which were more expensive to manufacture.
After the war, Buescher continued to make saxophones, and some of the better models are distinguished by Top Hat and Cane engravings. These models were a precursor to the modern saxophone. Besides the “Aristocrat” model, they featured an underslung octave key. Johnny Hodges had his own customized version with elaborate engraving.
When purchasing a used saxophone, check the model and price carefully. Often, the YTS-52 horn has a higher price than a Buescher model. You might get lucky and find a nice example of an early Buescher alto with a reasonable price. But be careful because Buescher made a ton of variations over the years.
Buescher sold one model at a time
Founded in 1870 by Ferdinand August “Gus” Buescher, the company produced many brass instruments, and competed with Martin and Conn. Buescher saxophones became known for their gold-plated Norton springs and snap-in pads, and Buescher tenors and altos were marketed in limited quantities throughout the 1920s. Buescher stayed true to the idea of Adolphe Sax in the early 1930s, and even gained the patronage of classical saxophonist Sigurd Rascher.
Under the new corporate ownership, the company began to bounce back, and sales reached $85.9 million by 1992. The company also continued to add other musical instrument manufacturers, including Chicago-based William Lewis & Son. In 1995, Selmer was profitable again, and sales topped $189 million. After a challenging start to the 1980s, Buescher concentrated on classical instruments, selling one model at a time.
After Selmer bought Buescher in 1963, the company expanded its range of instruments and merged the company with Bach. The Elkhart/Selmer Bundy lineup borrowed design elements from Aristocrat, including the G# key cluster. But, unlike the Aristocrats, Buescher’s instrument lineup did not suffer from the “dumbed-down” image that the Aristocrats had received.
Buescher’s sound concept
The Buescher brand was retired by Selmer after the company purchased it in 1963. The company briefly tried to revive the brand by offering inexpensive Asian-made saxophones. Buescher had previously made clarinets in the late nineteenth century, and its name referred to a type of clarinet that was shaped like a top hat with a cane. From 1920 to the early 1930s, the company produced a variety of clarinets and tenors, including the Buescher Saxonette, also known as a clariphon, claribel, or a combination of these instruments. Throughout the 1920s, Buescher remained true to Adolphe Sax’s concept for saxophone sound, and even gained the endorsement of classical saxophon
In the 1890s, Buescher had been working at Conn Band Instrument Company. He was the company’s foreman. The Buescher Band Instrument Company eventually merged with Elkhart Band Instrument Company, which was dissolved in 1936. Buescher continued to use the Elkhart brand until 1959, and by then, the company specialized in high-end professional saxophones. In 1963, Buescher sold his company to H&A Selmer. The company was subsequently absorbed into Conn-Selmer.
Following the acquisition, Selmer used Buescher’s factory to produce student-grade instruments. After Beardsley’s death, Buescher retained the Elkhart brand for their second-line instruments. However, the Buescher Aristocrat and the Selmer Bundy models eventually declined in popularity due to competition from Yamaha and the Aristocrat brand. The Buescher Aristocrat/Selmer Bundy models were not considered to be top-quality instruments.
The 400 Tophat & Cane
The 400 Tophat & Cane is a model of saxophone produced after WWII by Buescher. This design had bell tone holes on the back and was considered to be the precursor to the modern saxophone. It was also popular with jazz musicians but did not get the recognition it deserved as a classical instrument. When Selmer bought Buescher, he added the Tophat and Cane engraving and produced an even better model, the 400.
The company went under a name change, becoming the Buescher Band Instrument Company in 1919. Buescher continued to make brasswind instruments. The company introduced the Aristocrat and 400 lines of instruments in the 1930s and 1940s. Buescher produced military instruments until the end of World War II. In the late 1940s, Buescher resumed high-volume instrument production. From that time on, Buescher also continued to manufacture instruments for US military contracts.
This Buescher tenor saxophone is for sale with a matching case. It is an early prime model and has the original factory lacquer and engraving. In addition, the horn is seated on factory pads. This instrument will need a pad job and overhaul. If you are interested in owning one, make sure to get in touch with a professional saxophone maker.
The 400 Truetone
When Selmer bought Buescher, they also acquired the company’s name, bringing the name to instruments produced by the buescher manufacturing company. Buescher is a legendary name in the jazz world, having invented some of the most groundbreaking innovations in the field of saxophone construction during the jazz era. But what exactly is a Truetone? And why is it called such a thing?
The first 400 Truetone trumpets were custom-made for professional musicians. Louis Armstrong had recorded on a Buescher Truetone 10-22R in the late 1920s. The Truetone model was referred to as THC, or “Top Hat and Cane.” It was popular with jazz players, but not with the same discerning classical musicians as the Aristocrat. However, the buescher 400 became the basis for the Selmer Bundy saxophone.
The Buescher Band Instrument Company went on to become the main supplier of student-grade saxophones to the H&A Selmer Company. The Buescher brand was used as a trade name for Buescher instruments until it was phased out in 1963. After the acquisition of Buescher by Selmer, the True-Tone/Elkhart line was renamed Conn-Selmer.
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Fernánda Esteban is a food fanatic. She can't go more than a few hours without eating, and she loves trying new foods from all over the world. Her friends know that they can always count on her for a good conversation, and she's an animal lover who will never turn down an opportunity to pet a dog or cat. Fernánda also enjoys learning about random facts, and she's a social media practitioner who loves to share what she knows with others.