(1882 to 1980?)
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Couesnon (pronounced QUE-NON) is a model that has been around for quite some time. This is one of the several "conglomerates" of small French manufacturers.

Some history:

Couesnon was "estabished" in 1882 when Amedee Auguste Couesnon, the son-in-law of P.L. Guatrot, took over the directorship of Guatrot-Durand et Cie (read "Guatrot-Durand and company"). Guatrot, you may recall, was previously the seller of the Sarrusophone and was, thus, A. Sax's bitter rival.

Couesnon was "reformed" in 1931, as Couesnon S.A. (read: "Couesnon, Incorporated") with the inclusion of L'Association Generale des Ouvriers, Feuillet, Guichard, Lecomte, I. Lot, Massin & Thibouville, Triebert, Marquet, and "several others". About this time, there seems to be a gap of a few years in their saxophone manufacture, and when it was started again, the design was completely different -- but not patented (the last Couesnon saxophone patent is dated 1935, and a new one doesn't appear until 1976). I believe it was at this point that Couesnon started to concentrate on their brasswind manufacture.

Probably the most important thing to note is that Couesnon, in a joint venture with Dolnet & Pigis, created one of the first "modern" keywork patents on March 11, 1888 (FR189198) -- this was a patent that:
* Detailed a mechanism to allow the F/F# keys to close the G# key
* Detailed a mechanism that allowed the low Bb key alone to sound a low Bb
* Detailed a repositioned low Eb that could be fingered with the right hand pinky
* Detailed the G# trill key
* Increased the keyed range of the saxophone to altissimo F

If you wish to look up a bit more history on Guatrot and Couesnon, take a peek at this eBay ad (hey, they plagarized me, I'll plagarize them. They've got nice pictures).

 

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This historical information is distilled from New Langwill's Music Index and Frederick Hemke's Dissertation on the Early Saxophone


- Couesnon Patents -

 

Early Horns ("1900" Model)
(1882 to 1936)
Straight Bb Sopranos
.
Curved Bb Sopranos
.
Eb Altos
.
Eb Baritones
s/n 418 -- Armee Model
From eBay.com

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Brass
Silver
s/n 17xxx -- Unlabeled Model
From eBay.com

Picture Directories
Brass
Silver
s/n Unknown -- Armee Model
From eBay.com

Picture Directories
Brass
Silver
s/n Unknown -- Unlabeled Model
From eBay.com

Picture Directories
Brass
Silver

Here's a listing of all the early Couesnon model names, from "deluxe model" to "standard model", modifying the New Langwill Index to fit reality:

Modele Monopole ("elaborately" engraved)
Opera (Series HN)
Armee (Series BN) or FourMsseursDeL'Armee
Armee (Series GNM)
National (Series BO)
Universel (Series CGO)
and Modele SO (or Series SO)
(some models may be unmarked)

I don't have an exact idea, because I don't have enough examples, but it may also be the case that the "lower" models had dual-octave key and lacked pearl keytouches after 1913.

I am not sure when Couesnon switched from split-bell-keys to left-hand-bell keys. It's even possible that there was a switch only on the upper models, or upper models were switched first.

According to the New Langwill index, the date for these horns is found by looking at the number in the "grenade" ("pineapple") on the bell, so, e.g., "8" would mean "made in 1908".

The main reason I call these "1900" models: a lot of them have "hidden" serial numbers (under a key, or some such), rather than on the bell, but you can always see an engraving on the bell that says (translated), "Universal Exhibition of Paris, 1900" -- and it's a lot easier than remembering the Series names.

These horns have a very sweet sound -- I owned a "1900" bari -- but a lot are high pitch horns (Couesnons aren't labelled LP or HP.)

This is the only other model I know of to use bevelled tone holes. The other is Martin -- and they're significantly different.

Finally, a major note: post-1937 have a different label and address on the bell: "Couesnon SA, 105 rue Lafayette"

 

 

Series I (Monopole model)
(1937 to 1949; sn 1 to appx. 82xx)
Eb Altos
 
Eb Baritones (low Bb)
 
s/n 396x
From eBay.com

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Lacquer
Two-Tone
Silver
 
s/n 6xxx
From eBay.com

Picture Directories
Lacquer
Two-Tone
Silver

Again, after Couesnon was reformed in 1931, there was a slight gap in sax manufacture (it may be that I just haven't seen any horns from about 1931 to 1940). After this gap, these art deco horns appeared. Bevelled tone holes gave way to rolled tone holes. Left hand bell keys became right hand bell keys. Double-socket necks are also introduced.

Note that these horns have a bit different serial number structure. It's probable that either when Couesnon was incorporated or when they moved to their new facility that their serial numbers restarted at 1.

The construction of these saxophones parallels only one other French manufacturer: SML.

 

 

Series II (Monopole model)
(1950 to 1980?)
Eb Altos
 
Bb Tenors
s/n 1043x
From eBay.com

Picture Directories
Lacquer
Two-Tone
Silver
s/n 13xxx
From eBay.com

Picture Directories
Lacquer
Two-Tone
Silver

This series is marked by slight keywork design changes and different engraving.

There is no serial number chart extant for Couesnon. I do, however, find it difficult to believe that they produced saxophones after 1980, as their construction is far inferior to the Buffet SuperDynaction "transitional" models or S1, the Dolnet M70 or the Selmer Mark VII/S80.

However, I put their production end date so late because of Couesnon's 1976 saxophone neck patent (FR2277393), which is demonstrated on a Monopole neck.

 

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