Conn

Charles Gerard CONN (1844-1931) founded his musical instrument industry at Elkhart, Indiana, in 1874. He had great techniques abilities (he played various brasswinds and violin), and also a great creativity was the reason that took him to create one of big musical instruments industry never done.

His industry was the first to make saxophone in United States, and also introducing unusual models from 20’s to 30’s as Eb Sopranino, C- Soprano/Tenor(or c-melody), till rare models never produced again by other manufacturers like the “Mezzosoprano”, the “Conn-o-sax”: F-saxophones , that doesn’t meet a favourable market, and than their production was almost immediately interrupted.

During a First period of production, till XIX century end, Conn factory made only Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone saxophones. From 1907 Bb Curved soprano, C-melody (or C-tenor) and Bb Bass saxophones too.

Charles CONN took in consideration suggestions and opinions of many sax virtuosos, just to improve his saxophones, than he engaged some of them as Lefèbre, Moerman, Henton for supervisors.

Particularly Lefèbre arrived to Usa in 1870 bringing his alto Adolphe Sax model and he used this sax like pattern for early Conn “Wonder” series saxophones.
In 1915 C.G. CONN Company was purchased by a Society with Carl Diamond Greenleaf for major stockholder; with C.Greenleaf CONN Co. production was remarkably increased till 2500 instruments for working day. Especially from 20’s was increased saxophones production.

There were different models in these years after the “wonder models”, like the “New Invention”, “New Wonder” (artist,virtuoso,transitional models), till the
“New WonderII” model (usually known as “ChuBerry” models).

During the 30’s a general decline in saxophone production it coincided for CONN Co. with a change in sax production restricted to Alto, Tenor and Baritone models.
Other types were made only on order.

The most important Conn sax models from half of 30’s were “6M”(alto)-“10M”(tenor)-“12M”(baritone) models, called also “ARTIST” or commonly “Naked Lady”, of course for naked lady engraved over the bell.
The best period for these series “M” models it’s just considered between 30’s – 40’s.
Particularly the Alto series identified as “6M modelVIII” till today has been judged as the best series.

At least since 1948 the “M” series saxophones were made with any characteristics already well known for collectors and sax lovers:
“microtuner Neck” (for Alto): really already on the New WonderII models; the neck (chiver) of sax had a kind of screw-valve, it should be to serve for tune variation of instrument. This system vanished in 1954.
“Rolled Tone Holes” (for all saxophones): the rim holes (on these holes it puts the key), is just “rolled”, in this way it could be a better-large surface of adherence for keys will close the hole.
This system were left in 1948, it seems because accidentally was broken or damaged the mould for 10M-tenors; the matrix remade was manufactured in a different way, but a new “design” was used also for the other models of “M” series.
The “Conqueror” models of 30’s are a perfected variation of 6M/10M, in fact were produced only Altos(26M) and Tenors (30M), with a more strong sound and more exact intonation.
After the “Constellation” models left high building quality but didn’t pull up the Company by difficulties.
CONN Co. probably already from 1955 introduced The “Director” models, a popular models called also “shooting stars” for engravings on the bell.
The purchase in 1959-’60 of Best Manufacturing Company of Nogales in Arizona, it moved big side of production in this location, with a poor quality of saxophones.
Maybe the last original Conn sax were produced at early of 1970 .
After few years CONN Co. was purchased (with King H.N.White Co.) by the same Selmer Group, actually it made only student instruments.