I’m often reminded that for many people they’re saxophone isn’t just a saxophone , it might be the most expensive thing they own, it might be what they make there living with or it could be of great sentimental value.
We recently worked on an old Selmer alto saxophone that had been left in an attic for the last 50 years. It belonged to man called Clarence West who bought it in 1945 and played in various dance bands throughout the 40’s and 50’s until he lost a finger and had to give up, when he died the saxophone was passed on to his son who stored in his attic and forgot about it until rediscovering it nearly 50 years to the day it was last played.
When he brought it in to us the saxophone was in a terrible state the pads were rotten, the keywork seized up and the silver plating badly pitted and tarnished, but he was determined to get it restored to it’s former glory in memory of his father. Interestingly he mentioned that the night before he brought the saxophone into us he had a vivid dream in which his dad rung him up and reminded him to get the mouthpiece replated, we’re happy to report that we did get it replated along with the rest of the saxophone.
Mr West was extremely happy with the end result and hopefully Clarence if he’s up there looking down is as well.
