Julius Keilwerth

The Julius Keilwerth company is a German saxophone manufacturer established in 1925. It made saxophones under the Conn, H. Couf, and Armstrong brands.

Company history

Herbert Couf, for many years the vice president of the W. T. Armstrong Company, imported three models of Keilwerth saxophones to the United States; they were stenciled (engraved) with the model name "H. Couf". They were sold in the U.S. under this name from approximately 1965 until 1988. The model names were "Superba I", "Superba II" and "Royalist". These instruments largely corresponded to previous Keilworth models as follows:
*The New King (professional model) = H. Couf Royalist (alto and tenor)
*Toneking (professional model) = H. Couf Superba II (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass)
*Toneking Special (top professional model) = H. Couf Superba I (alto and tenor) made with rolled toneholes and sophisticated keywork.

The Superba I and II were mostly built to order, so purchasers had the option of special features and finish, such as low A bass, black lacquer, and custom engraving. The same instruments were also stenciled for Conn under the name "DJH Modified".

Keilwerth also manufactured the body for another line of saxophones stenciled "Armstrong". Later "Armstrong" saxophones were built by the Armstrong company alone.

Changes in ownership

In 1986, jazz saxophonist Peter Ponzol was hired as a consultant to refine and redesign Keilwerth saxophones for the jazz market. By the end of the 1980s, Keilwerth had introduced its SX90R series and gained endorsements from jazz musicians such as Branford Marsalis, Courtney Pine, James Moody and David Liebman.

Boosey & Hawkes purchased Keilwerth in 1989 and merged the company with Schreiber in 1996. The combined company was sold to The Music Group in 2003. In 2006 The Music Group was broken up. Schreiber & Keilwerth was sold to "(need name)".