King-H.N.White

The Company was founded in 1893 by Henderson N..White as musical Publishing House and also as Company for repairing Wind Musical Instruments in Cleveland-Ohio, at this time one of the important financial, industrial, cultural centre of United States.
Already in the first time production H.N.White Co. begins a collaboration with a famous local Trombone-player Thomas King and a first musical instrument line (particularly trombones), was called just “KING”.
The success of these instruments persuaded Company to extend production for other Brasswinds, and also to confirm “KING” as definitive Brand name.
From 1908 in answer to a mounting request, KING Co. begins to distribute first saxophones made by French Evette-Schaffer, less expensive and than competitive with Usa saxophones.
But in 1910 Evette&Schaffer sold exclusive rights for his saxophones to Carl Fischer importer of New York forcing KING to change, importing saxophones made by Kolhert co. in Germany.
Only in 1916 the H.N.White Co. arranged to made own saxophones, but only Alto models, marked KING.
From 20’s KING produced also Tenor, Baritone and C-melody models.
KING obtained very soon a great reputation as sax-maker just after Conn and Buescher.
But in 1926 it extended his saxophones range with introduction of a C-Soprano, straight and curved Bb Soprano, and particularly with an half-curved Bb Soprano model called “SAXELLO”.
Besides from 20’s to 30’s H.N.White Co. could propose 3 sax and brasswinds lines with different price ranges: “KING”(1st.line), “Cleveland” and “American Standard” (both 2nd line).
In 1932 were made new models of Alto and Tenor sax, known as “VOLL-TRUE II”.
In 1935 the early “ZEPHYR” models, really a “Voll-TrueII” modified saxophones especially for high-E mechanism.
Around in 1940-41, was introduced for “Zephyr line” the “socket neck” mechanism, to reduce clearance and dispersion among Neck and Body ; besides in 1939 KING introduced also a new “ZEPHYR Special”, many of these models were made with a Solid-Silver Neck.
After WWII in spite of many problems concerning world market troubles, KING introduced a new, legendary model,
The “SUPER 20”: the first models were substantially a “Zephyr”-modified with more elaborated bell or key engraving and with a different Neck which was a distinctive mark of this model, designed by Fred Meyer.
After “SUPER 20” was proposed also with a Solid-Silver neck and bell.
But already at the end of 60’s, KING saxophones quality including “Super 20” it begins to be really poor , especially when production was transferred from Cleveland (historic location) to Eastlake.
There was also a discontinued production of “Super20” till 1975, but in 70’s industry profits decreased.
From 1960 since 80’s KING imported a sax line too,
The “MARIGAUX” from French SML (Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire), it was very similar to SML-“Gold Medal II” model (No “rolled tone-holes” model), and than it was a SML not a King sax.
IN 1995 KING seems came back to past fame, announcing a new top professional model production: the “SUPER 21”.
It was shown in any exhibition and were made around a dozen saxophones, but after “Super21” project was quite left.
Actually KING (like Conn) is in a Industry Musical Company , under Selmer control, it makes only a student musical instrument line.