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" Woodwind Co."
New York, 1918 - 1967
* The "Woodwind Co". was founded in 1918 by Walter Gemeinhardt.
* Located to 240 E, 86th St. New York city.
* Composed of the following members:
- Walter Gemeinhardt, citizen of Germany
- John Schmidt, ..........citizen of Czechoslovakia
- Eugène Bercioux,.... citizen of France
* 19 March 1920: the firm patented the trade mark "Steel Ebonite", a specially developed hard rubber that is highly sensitive, durable as tough metal, not warping under extremely high
temperatures and which was continuously used by Eugène Bercioux since July 1910.
( Patent n° 141,819)
* The facings of woodwind mouthpieces are made with a special facing machine patented by
Eugene Bercioux the 24 of April 1923. (Patent n° 1,452,953).
* 1926: The firm moves to 235 East 60th Street, new York.
- The produced models are "Woodwind" and "Meliphone" chambers.
* 1928: The firm moves to 131 West 45th St. New York city.
* December 1935: New "Chester Hazlett" model.
* 1936: New "36 model.
* March 1937: New "Sparkle-Air" model
* 1950: The firm is sold to Ernest Deffner and is now located to 461 Eight
Avenue, New york City 1, N. Y.,
* In September of 1967 the firm was acquired by Leblanc Corporation.
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The tone chambers of Woodwind
mouthpieces are designated
by model names:
*( 1918-1967) which has a large round type chamber
design of the 20's.
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​
*(1920 - 1967)which has a clarinet type chamber.
​
​
* (February 1934> )based on the Meliphone Special.
* (1936> ) which his a medium large
chamber design with a"powered chamber"and a
"sensitized tip".
* (Early 30's - 1934)
based on the "Original Woodwind".
* (December 1935 - 1944 )
based on the Original Woodwind.
* (March 1937 - 1967)
which has a medium round chamber offering more brilliance and
power than the old "Original Woodwind" or "36 design.
..............................
"Original Woodwind" model.
(1918 - 1967)
*This mouthpiece was produced from 1918 to1967.
* It has a large round type chamber
design of the 20's.
Below: Alto and tenor model
(right)
The baritone model.
This model was played by the famous Harry Carney.
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"Meliphone Special" model
(1920 - 1967)
* " The "Meliphone Special" model was produced from 1920 to 1967.
*It has a clarinet type chamber with straight inner side walls and a big chamber.
*A special "Dick Dtabile" model was produced,
This was based on the Meliphone K5* model
Below: Alto, C melody and tenor sax models.
Below: typical box of the 40's.
" Merle Johnston" model
(early 30's >1934)
* Available for alto and tenor sax.
* Based on the Original woodwind chamber.
* Only one tip opening for each instrument, as played by Merle Johnston.
* See also Merle Johnston Selmer model
Do Something .mp3Merle Johnston saxophone quartet 1929
00:00 / 02:56
" Dick Stabile Special" model
(February 1934 > )
* Soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax and Bb clarinet.
* All models based on "Meliphone" steel ebonite stock model with straight inner side walls type chamber.
* The alto model was also played by the classical virtuoso Al Gallodoro.
* Only one tip opening for each mouthpieces as played by Dick Stabile himself.
Dick Stabile: (May 29, 1909 – September 18, 1980) was an American jazz saxophonist and bandleader
He was one of the great alto sax player of his time.
He was the only jazz musician to hit the top note of the saxophone, "an Octave and 2 Notes above the Scale - practically a range of 4 full octaves."
See web site Dick Stabile tribute by Bob Ferrari : http://www.dickstabile.com/home.htm
Below: soprano, alto and tenor models
Above: Baritone model
Later alto and tenor version without silver nickel ring on shank.
.Dick Stabile 1942
00:00 / 01:34
"36 model.
(1936 > )
* Produced from1936.
* Based on the "Original woodwind"
design.
It has a medium large chamber, called
"powered chamber" and a "sensitized tip".
" Chester Hazlett "model.
(December 1935 -1944)
Alto and tenor sax, Bb clarinet, bass clarinet.
* Based on the "Original Woodwind" model.
* Available only with one facing for each instrument, as played by Chester Hazlett himself.
Chester Hazlett was a famous sax and clarinet player of the 20's and 30's , essentially known for his work with the Paul Whiteman band. He also advertised for King Super 20 saxophones in the 40's. The Chester Hazlett saxophone mouthpieces was designed to develop the "silvery mellow sax tone for which Hazlett was famous" and clarinet piece was "built to facilitate sub-tone playing".
Above: the alto model.
Below: tenor model
Below:tenor large chamber.
Below: alto large chamber.
Below:tenor '" Meliphone" type straight inner side wall chamber.
Below: Chester Hazlett in 1935 with his alto Selmer Balanced Action, short bell and Steel Ebonite "Chester Hazlett" mouthpiece.
"Sparkle - Aire" model.
(March 1937 - 1967 )
The Woodwind Co. of New York introduced the Sparkle-Aire model in March 1937.
This new model was available for alto, tenor and baritone sax.
The company has been working towards a model which increased the volume of the instrument without detracting from intonation and tone quality.
The new mouthpiece was carved from sensitive Steel Ebonite and changes where made in the tone chamber and mouth-rest in order to increase comfort and volume control.
​
"Bonacio Custombilt":
By Woodwind Company (New York)
( April 1937 > 1940 )
Bennie Bonacio.
Born : September 04, 1903 in Mineo, Italy.
Died : January 10, 1974 in Clearwater, Florida.
Bennie Bonacio played in the bands of Lou Gold, Rudy Vallee, Paul Whiteman, André Kostalanetz, Morton Gould, Percy Faith and others.
Leblanc Corp. /Woodwind.
(1967 > )
Below:
Typical box for Woodwind mouthpiece marketed by Leblanc Corporation in the 60's / 70's.
_.jpg)
Below:
the 1950 Woodwind Co catalog.
Below:
Woodwind Co. 1962 catalog.
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