Holton

Frank Holton, a trombone-player begins selling new and used trombones at Chicago in 1897.
In 1904 established the “FRANK HOLTON Company” offering a complete brass-winds line from trombones to trumpets, cornets and other horns.
His activity expanded when in 1917 Company was transferred at Elkhorn in Wisconsin, where it continued for many years exceeding “Great Depression” and war period during 40’s .
From his birth Holton Co. was known especially for his brass-winds instruments but it began to make saxophones around in 1912, producing Alto, Tenor and C-melody saxophones often made with an extra-keys system, advertised as new-innovative system but really copied from 1908- “apogee” system by French Evette-Schaeffer.
The “NEW REVELATION” Models introduced in 1924 included Bb- or C- Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass all with range from low Bb to high F: nobody manufacturers could offer a C-Soprano with same range notes in this time.
Holton Co. publicized many innovations of his products for increasing interest about his instruments as the “Holton Master-Keys”: D-G-G# Trill keys with silver soldering of tone holes.
In 1926 was introduced also a “No Cork-Neck “, publicized as a Mouthpiece Tone-System more quick and efficient relatively to traditional system: it was a Bakelite mouthpiece with a terminal screwing side over a no-cork Neck with screwing side too. Intonation was just regulated screwing/unscrewing the mouthpiece from neck, of course was available also a cork-adaptor and a normal mouthpiece for a traditional use.
Between the innovations also the collaboration with famous Cmelody-sax virtuoso Rudy Wiedoft, well known sax-player in popular music of 20’s-30’s.
Early “RUDY WIEDOFT” Models is of 1927, it was the first example of sax bringing a name of a famous musician.
Beyond to innovations and extra-keys already on previous models , “Wiedoft” model introduced a direct movement for low Bb, putting B / Bb Holes on left side of Bell, and then a double-fingering with a G#-key (really already existent).
However this Keys-system arrangement in total was really remarkable.
They were made Alto, Tenor, C-Melody, Soprano saxophones, on sopranos particularly with an alternative innovative High-F key.
In 1928 was added an extra-hole near low C-hole which remained open for all notes up low C, it closed when low C-key was pushed; totally this system tried to reduce the air-resistance given by curving of instrument.
Really Rudy Wiedoft collaborated few about these innovations, on the contrary many of his ideas or opinions it seems were ignored from Holton.
In fact at the end of 30’s Wiedoft and Holton Co. left their cooperation.
After during 50’s or 60’s Holton Co. made especially popular sax lines for student or musical bands:
The “COLLEGIATE” Model was a good instrument for Bands largely used.
IN 1964 Holton Co. was purchased by French Leblanc Musical Co.