Six Valve Trombone by Adolphe Sax

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Added the following to the 19th century timeline (2nd half):

1864—Paris, France: Two prints in the illustrated newspaper L’Illustration depict instruments by Adolphe Sax. The first, Audition des nouveaux instruments d’Adolphe Sax, shows a man demonstrating instruments on a stage. The second shows several instruments up close, including a “Nouveau trombone,” the six-valve instrument situated between the two drums (see facing image; public domain) (L’Illustration vol. XLIV, July 16, 1864, p. 48).

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In 1852, Adolphe Sax patented the six ascending valve system. The valves are the reverse of standard valves- by depressing the valve, one bypasses a section of tubing, thus raising the pitch. Each valve functions independently with no need for combination, resulting in theoretically perfect intonation. However, all that piping and having to run through each valve not once but twice leads to a high risk of leaks (not to mention makes the instrument very heavy) and the process was a commercial flop, leading to Sax's first bankruptcy later that same year.
Written on Wed, 05 Dec 2018 12:38:58 by Warren_Adary
I don't believe they do, but you might be able to buy an old one!
Written on Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:25:21 by wkimball
I want to know if they still have them in production. If so, I'd love to have one.
Written on Sat, 21 Sep 2013 22:49:33 by Gman
There’s a 6 valve trombone for sale in Belgium right now… manufactured by Mahillon. If you want help to contact the vendor please let me know. brgds, Luc
Written on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:43:51 by Luc Decock
There's one for sale in Belgium right now... manufactured by Mahillon. If you want help to contact the vendor please let me know. brgds, Luc
Written on Tue, 25 May 2010 03:23:51 by Luc Decock
John, Thanks for your comment. I don't have any specific recommendations on where to buy a 6-valve trombone, but if you continue surfing around, I think you can find a few for sale online. Good luck! Will
Written on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:23:19 by wkimball
Surfed into here. I have a Conn alto. I also would love to have a six valve trombone! But I still want a slide. Perhaps at least a trigger as on fluegelhorns to give us a whole tone or so of sliding capacity. Lemme know where to buy it.
Written on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:16:16 by john o'loughlin
Thanks David. I'm honored that you would visit my site! I'm excited to get my hands on your new book. Please let me know when it becomes available, and I'll put in a plug in my blog. Will
Written on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:59:43 by wkimball
The French press occasionally mentioned someone named Hollebecke as demonstrating Sax's 6-valve trombone. I suspect you have posted a picture of him. I always enjoy coming to your blog. You have such great pictures.
Written on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:19:01 by David Guion
Thanks Bodie!
Written on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:58:41 by wkimball
I had no idea. That sounds like a pretty cool instrument. Thanks for the education. -Bodie P.S. Great website. Keep up the good work.
Written on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:04:25 by Bodie
Bodie, Good point. It's definitely similar. The caption on the lower picture does call the instrument a "Nouveau Trombone," and if you look around the web, there are numerous photos of similar 6-valve trombones by Adolphe Sax. The concept was, of course, that each trombone position got a separate valve (first position being open), so intonation problems were limited. I believe the difference between this and a cimbasso would be in register and number of valves (see Meucci, The Cimbasso and Related Instruments, Galpin Society Jnl). Will
Written on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:01:11 by wkimball
Looks like a cimbasso.
Written on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:56:37 by Bodie