Name of Instrument: alto saxophone in Eb

Maker / Brand: Allen Loomis

Stearns Catalog #: 1596

Country of Origin: Toledo, Ohio, USA

Region of Origin: North America

Instrument Category: Aerophone

Date of Fabrication: ca. 1920

Location: AER G 4

Description: This instrument, patented by Allen Loomis of Toledo, Ohio, in 1920, was intended to serve as a prototype for the production of a new type of alto saxophone by the Conn musical instrument company. Of the several designers employed by the Conn design laboratory, Allen Loomis was known for his innovative, often outrageous instrument design. While his models often did incorporate many mechanical and acoustical improvements, they were frequently dismissed as too impractical to be put into production. It is speculated that Loomis never played a musical instrument in his life. Loomis was born in Jackson, Michigan; as an inventor, he received an 1899 patent for an automobile transmission, again, without any experience in the field.

This Alto Saxophone in E Flat (curved) is made of brass with silver-plated touches and rollers. He called it the "Double Resonance" model because it allows two or more tone holes to open below the key pressed. It is also known to technicians, due its mechanical complexity, as "The Watchmaker's Dream". Weighing 4 pounds more than a modern Saxophone, it has twenty-six brass keys including third octave key and low A extension (L4 roller). The instrument incorporates numerous mechanical and acoustical improvements including relatively small diameter tone holes and many keys having been relocated. The serial number is 6 (Loomis is known to have made eight instruments in total).

It is signed, "LOOMIS / 6 / ALLEN LOOMIS / 3101 MONROE ST. / TOLEDO, OHIO, U.S.A. / PATENTED APRIL 6, 1920 / OTHER PATENTS PENDING."

Research: Prof. James M. Borders and Stearns Staff