Charlie Parker's Alto Saxophone

Description

Alto saxophone owned and played by Charlie Parker. The saxophone consists of seven parts: a body, neck, two [2] mouthpieces, two [2] ligatures and a reed.

2019.10.1a: The saxophone body is made of brass and has a sterling silver bell. Some of the keys have mother-of-pearl inlays. The bell is decorated with an engraved floral design with text on the front. The text reads [KING / Super / 20 / THE H.N. WHITE CO. /CLEVELAND – O]. Engraved above the bell lug at the bow of the saxophone is [STERLING / BELL]. Engraved in cursive text below this on the bell lug is [Charlie Parker]. Engraved on the back of the body at the bow, below the key guard is [295173].

2019.10.1b: The alto saxophone neck is made of brass and is covered in cork where the neck attaches to the mouthpiece. Engraved on the neck screw at the bottom of the neck is [295173].

2019.10.1c: The alto saxophone ligature is made of circular piece of metal. The ligature has two screws on the bottom to help support the reed in the mouthpiece.

2019.10.1d: An alto saxophone mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is made of metal with a plastic inlay on the beak and red rubber around the shank. Engraved text on the left side of the body reads [Series GG 53]. Engraved text on the front of the body reads [MASTER / LINK / NY / MOUTHPIECE]. Engraved text on the right side of the body reads [MASTER / LINK / NY / MOUTHPIECE]. Engraved text around the shank of the mouthpiece reads [OTTO LINK & CO. INC. NEW YORK].

2019.10.1e: An alto saxophone reed. The reed has black text on the back in the center of the reed. The text is printed over and around a musical clef and staff. Text written vertically and to the left of the musical clef is partially illegible. Part of it reads [Marque]. Text written over the musical staff reads [RICO] Text below the musical staff reads [REG U.S. PAT OFFICE]. Text written vertically to the right of the musical staff reads [V-2].

2019.10.1f: An alto saxophone mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is made of white plastic. It has gold text on the top of the body, near the shank. The text reads [“King” A].

2019.10.1g: The alto saxophone ligature is made of metal and fits on a metal mouthpiece cap when not assembled. The ligature has two screws.

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

H. N. White Company, American, 1893 - 1965

Otto Link & Co. Inc., American, founded 1931

Rico, American, founded 1928

Used by

Charlie Parker, American, 1920 - 1955

Owned by

Charlie Parker, American, 1920 - 1955

Date

ca. 1947

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Medium

brass (alloy), silver, mother of pearl, cork (bark)

Dimensions

H x W x D (assembled saxophone): 26 3/4 × 5 1/8 × 13 3/4 in. (68 × 13 × 35 cm)

H x W x D (2019.10.1a): 22 1/16 × 8 7/8 × 4 3/4 in. (56 × 22.5 × 12 cm)

H x W x D (2019.10.1b): 7 1/2 × 1 15/16 × 1 9/16 in. (19 × 5 × 4 cm)

H x W x D (2019.10.1c): 7/8 × 1 3/16 × 1 3/16 in. (2.2 × 3 × 3 cm)

H x W x D (2019.10.1d): 3 1/8 × 1 × 1 in. (8 × 2.5 × 2.5 cm)

H x W x D (2019.10.1e): 2 9/16 × 9/16 × 1/8 in. (6.5 × 1.5 × 0.3 cm)

H x W x D (2019.10.1f): 3 1/8 × 1 3/16 × 1 3/16 in. (8 × 3 × 3 cm)

H x W x D (2019.10.1g): 13/16 × 1 3/16 × 1 3/16 in. (2 × 3 × 3 cm)

Type

saxophones