Some time in 1908 King began importing Evette & Schaeffer saxophones and selling them as a less expensive alternative to American made saxes. Then in 1910 Carl Fisher Instruments became sole distributor of Evette & Schaeffer saxophones and Mr. White was forced to look elsewhere. Mr. White chose to import V. Kohlert saxophones while he built up the King facilities to enter into his own production of saxophones. Finely around 1916 Mr. White began producing his own saxophones and by 1925 he introduced a new series of horns eight (C soprano, straight and curved Bb sopranos, Bb saxello, Eb alto, C melody, Bb tenor and Eb baritone) horns made in Cleveland. From 1917 to 1918 the entire production of saxophones was made for the government during World War I. Saxophones produced during the War are engraved with U. S. or some other type of engraving which tells which branch of the military it went to. (U. S. N. =Navy, U. S. M. C.=Marine Corps) These saxophones featured many new improvements by King associate Mr. Henry Dreves. The most interesting of these improvements was the introduction of the King "Saxello" in the early 1920's. The saxello was a curved neck and a bell tipped at a right angle on a straight soprano. In 1918 the company was incorporated and "Co" was added to the engraving of all instruments, before 1918 the engraving read simply as "H. N. White."

King saxophone production in my opinion did not hit full stride until the "Zephyr" models were produced. Zephyrs featured better key design and improved bore. The Zephyr Special represents the culmination of Mr. White's work, which would lead to the development of the world famous "Super 20" after World War II. The list of H. N. White super 20 players is impressive including: Mr. Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Mr. Georgie Auld, Mr. Sam Donahue, Mr. Charlie Ventura, and the great Charlie Parker Jr. The H. N. White Company made the following brands: King, American Standard, and Cleveland saxophones.

This page is designed to show the first known year of production (based on my catalogs) and any changes that are made over the production cycle of the instruments including model numbers and any unique specifications. Please note all the "www.hnwhite.com" watermarks on the catalog pages, sellers from www.ebay.com have used information inaccurately and without permission from this website and it is essential that buyers know the source of information. Sellers may use watermarked catalog pages, please do not edit out the website address. This website strives to provide the best information possible.

Please make sure to check out this link. It is from a 1969-1970 King catalog but it more clearly lists options of later H. N. White Saxophones.

Serial Numbers

King Soprano

King Saxello

King C Melody

King Eb Alto No. 1004

King Bb Tenor No. 1006 Saxophones

King Eb Baritone No. 1007 Saxophones

The King Super 20 Alto Saxophone

The King Super 20 Tenor Saxophone

The King Super 20 Baritone Saxophone

Production for Soprano Saxophones is thought to have started around 1916-1920. On a few other website's it is thought that King did not make their own Soprano Saxophones, but The H. N. White Company did make there own until WWII. The company has not in the habit of importing or stenciling any of their saxophones. After WWII the Soprano Saxophone line was dropped (none were offered to dealers) and production never resumed.

Specifications:

Low Bb to High F

Weight: 2Ibs. 4.5 oz.

Length: 25 Inches

Bell Diameter: 3.5 Inches

Put into production in late 1924-25 the Saxello was a major departure from the "Straight" Soprano. The Saxello was the first patent application (U.S. Patent 1549101, granted November 2, 1926) for saxophones sought by The H. N. White Company. By 1938 with the great depression, production of the Saxello ended.

Specifications:

Low Bb to High F

Weight: 5 Ibs. 14.5 oz.

Length: 27.5 Inches

Bell Diameter: 4.75 Inches

Model Numbers:

#1005...Introduced around 1918-1920.

Introduced around 1918-1920. This was the most popular saxophone to play if you were an amateur. The C Melody was very "user-friendly" and could be played without complicated transposition of sheet music. As the saxophone evolved, the C Melody became mostly a beginner saxophone. With King, the C Melody would continue to be manufactured thru the 1930's under the "Cleveland" and "American Standard" brands.

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1924 King Eb Alto (catalog picture from 1927)

1931 King "Voll-True" Eb Alto (catalog picture from 1932)

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1933 King "Voll-True II" Eb Alto (catalog picture from 1933)

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Weight: 5 Ibs. 4 oz.

Bell Diameter: 4.875 Inches

The King Zephyr Alto remained unchanged until the company was sold in 1965.

Specifications:

Low Bb to High F

Weight: 7 Ibs. 8 oz.

Length: 32 Inches

Bell Diameter: 5.625 Inches

 

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1933 King "Voll-True II" Tenor (catalog picture from1934)

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Weight: 7 Ibs. 4 oz.

Bell Diameter: 6.5 Inches

The King Zephyr Tenor remained unchanged until the company was sold in 1965.

Specifications:

Low Bb to High Eb

Weight: 11 Ibs.

Length: 40 Inches

Bell Diameter: 8 Inches

Model Numbers:

#1007...Introduced around 1916-1920 with production ending by 1931.

 

Specifications:

Model Numbers: (22 Times Better)

#1007...Around 1931-1932 The New King "Voll-True" Alto Saxophone replaced the Baritone No. 1007 Saxophone. In 1933 the "Voll True II" replaced this model.

1933 King "Voll True II" Eb Baritone (picture from 1934)

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#1007...The New King "Voll-True II" Baritone Saxophone was introduced in 1933 replacing the "Voll True".

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#1007...Around 1935-1936 The King New "Zephyr" Model Eb Baritone was introduced and replaced the "Voll-True II" No. 1007.

Special Note: There is no catalog record of a "Zephyr Special" Baritone ever entering production.

After WWII, there are no Baritone Saxophones in any of The White Way catalogs until 1953.

Specifications:

Model Numbers:

#1007...In the 1954 catalog The "Zephyr" Model Eb Baritone was reintroduced into the King line up.

Specifications:

Weight: 11 Ibs.

Bell Diameter: 7.6875 Inches

Model Numbers:

#1007...The "Zephyr" Model Eb Baritone remained the same until production was moved to Eastlake.

The King Zephyr Baritone remained unchanged until the company was sold in 1965. There is some speculation that the #1007 was still produced even if it was not pictured from 1946-1953 in the catalogs.

Model Numbers:

#1014...The "Super 20" Alto Saxophone. Production started soon after WWII, and was a world wide success.

In 1947 Sterling Silver Bells are added to the Super 20 option list. Silver Bells Click Here.

Model Numbers:

#1014..."Super 20" Alto Saxophone brass bell.

#1014-S..."Super 20" Alto Silversonic. Silver Bells Click Here.

Specifications:

Weight: 5 Ibs. 4 oz.

Bell Diameter: 4.875 Inches

Model Numbers:

#1014..."Super 20" Alto Saxophone brass bell.

#1014-S..."Super 20" Alto Silversonic. Silver Bells Click Here.

The Super 20 arguably the most famous saxophone of all time.

The King Super 20 Alto remained unchanged until the company was sold in 1965.

Specifications:

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Weight: 7 Ibs. 4 oz.

Bell Diameter: 6.1875 Inches

 

The Super 20 arguably the most famous saxophone of all time. The King Super 20 Tenor remained unchanged until the company was sold in 1965.

Specifications:

Weight: 11 Ibs.

Bell Diameter: 7.6875 Inches

 

The King Super 20 Baritone remained unchanged until the company was sold in 1965.