Tone King Amati Alto Saxaphone

[Bubblez]

Ive just bought a very beautiful old tone king alto saxaphone. Im looking for some historical information on it if anyone can provide some I'd be incredibly grateful!
Its at least over 17 years old, as my friends dad bought it 17 years ago secondhand, it was used once and then hasnt been touched in 17 years!!! Its a lovely old silver coated sax. On the front of the bell/bell brace is "tone king, amati, KRASLICE" with lovely engravings around it, and then on the back is "H, 19826" then the JK in the circle with the best in the world, then under that "MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA"
It has 12 inlaid pearl keys.
If theres anymore information I can supply please let me know!
I will inclue the pictures that I have just taken
I plan to have it serviced and probably the corks replaced! But would love to find out information about it beforehand as it may be incredibly old or soemhting and have to be handled differently?
Thanks so much! :D

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd252/cbnsbubblez/PIC_0509.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd252/cbnsbubblez/PIC_0506.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd252/cbnsbubblez/PIC_0507.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd252/cbnsbubblez/PIC_0508.jpg

[rbur]

hi,
here is something on saxpics:
http://www.saxpics.com/keilwerth/index.htm

[saxflute]

Here the history:

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Resources/Amati-History.html

[DTGAZ]

Bubblez,

Welcome to the Amati Owners Club. It looks like you have yourself a wonderful horn.

The thought that it might "be incredibly old" is hurtful :cry:, because I was born in 1949 and I am almost positive your sax is younger than me!::)

Based on the information you have I would guess your horn was made some time in the 1970's.

Based on remarks from others, you have very good saxophone. Let us know how it plays.

Dennis

[Yamahaaltoplayer]

Just to tell you, it's spelt saxophone. I just hate it when I see saxaphone or saxiphone.;)

[DTGAZ]

Bubblez

CORRECTION--------------UPDATE

I know of a Classic Deluxe tenor with Serial number 99587 was made in 1973. So your sax with Serial Number H, 19826 is quite a bit older than that (assuming Amati followed a logical serial number sequence). Yours could have even been made in the 1950's.

Again only an estimate on my part

Dennis

[SearjeantSax]

its a keilwerth/amati stencil from when keilwerth were still in czech by the sounds of it.
good solid horn and should not be messed around with! have the work done well by someone recommended on this forum if you intend to play it!

i would say it is 1950s or perhaps slightly older even? I cant remember when keilwerth went from czech to germany.

[Twombles62]

I just bought an Amati Toneking 18,xxx which doesn't have the TONEKING written on it.
It was the best saxophone tonewise I'd played, closely followed by a very nice Conn 10M and a $9K Balanced Action. The keywork is fine although it was modified by the best tech before I got it, and the intonation is very flexible, so with some practice it will be fine.

[Bubblez]

Oh wow guys! Thanks sooooooooo much for this information! Im in love with it, and will start looking for someone who can give me a recommendation on who to take it to to get it all sorted out (think some of the corking needs replacing and a general tune up/service sort of think) I am in love with it already and whilst never having played saxophone before am learning pretty quickly (Ive played woodwind for many years), so Id definately like to have it seen to, and all this and I only paid $100 for it! I think I might have got the bargain of the year!
And sorry if I offended anyone over it being old LOL Im only 22! :D
If anyone can recommend someone for me to take it to to have it looked at Id really appreciate it! Its my new baby! :D

[Balkan_KingZeph]

I just bought an Amati Toneking 18,xxx which doesn't have the TONEKING written on it.
It was the best saxophone tonewise I'd played, closely followed by a very nice Conn 10M and a $9K Balanced Action. The keywork is fine although it was modified by the best tech before I got it, and the intonation is very flexible, so with some practice it will be fine.

with a serial number of 18,xxx it is most likely a keilwerth body.

does it have the 'JK - Best in the world' stamp below the serial number?

[Bubblez]

yep it does have the jk best in the world stamp, and i thought it looked like the keilwerth body, that is the closest in the pics ive found anyways...
another question, what is the best thing to use to shine it up a bit? i think its silver plated, but its old and kinda tarnished, so want to give it a clean and shine :)

[Twombles62]

with a serial number of 18,xxx it is most likely a keilwerth body.

does it have the 'JK - Best in the world' stamp below the serial number?

Yeah it does. Different engraving on the bell but I think it's still Keilwerth.

[sax-ony]

Yeah it does. Different engraving on the bell but I think it's still Keilwerth.

I'm sure it's a Keilwerth. That's a very early serial number for Amati. Does it actually say "Amati" on it anywhere? If not, I'd say it is a straightforward Keilwerth stencil from before Amati came into existence. Does it have a microtuner on the neck? What does it actuallty say on the bell?

[Twombles62]

It only says Amati on the bell. Fairly standard keywork plus an extra key which i think is a D# trill key or something. No microtuner.

[DTGAZ]

Twombles62

http://www.saxpics.com/keilwerth/index.htm

If you follow this link you see an explanation why the Amati and Keilwerths appear so similar. You have an Amati, made by Amati, great similarities to the Keilwerth of the time.

Remenber Keilwerth was part of the initial Amati Co-operative after WWII, and Amati used many Keilwerth techniques, and design principles in making Amati Saxes. As Keilwerth was initially part of the Amati Co-op they were justified in utilisiing a number Keilwerth markings.

Dennis

[Twombles62]

Thanks mate.
Yeah I read that, it's just got a different engraving but seems to be that same horn.