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Contrabass list Fri, 3 Apr 1998 Volume 1 : Number 36
In this issue:
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 20:56:30 EST
From: PaulC135
<PaulC135@aol.com>
Subject: Re: list V1 #35
In a message dated 4/2/98 10:43:27 PM, you wrote:
<<I asked Conn how many sarrusophones they'd have to sell in order to make it worthwhile to start manufacturing again. The off-the-cuff estimate is that they'd have to be guaranteed sales of about 500 horns per year for at least 10 years.
You know, that really isn't *that* many instruments, even for something like a sarrusophone. I wonder how many contrabassoons are sold in a year? Or bass saxophones? Anyway, now I'm curious as to how many people would want a *new* Conn Eb contrabass sarrusophone, if they were to hypothetically start manufacturing them again. Possibly with a few modernizations, like alternate fingerings for Bb, and an articulated G#... I added a bit to the end of my sarrusophone page inviting people to tell me if they'd be interested. If there are surprising results, I'll forward the numbers to Conn (actually UMI now). If not, well, at least my curiosity will be satisfied. The link is http://www.contrabass.com/pages/sarrus.html#new-sarrus. Eventually, I'll put an actual form there - as soon as I read up on how to implement forms... >>
I assume that you are thinking that UMI has the original molds and tooling and designs for the Conn sarrusophone from the 1920s? I would be surprised if any of that was still in existence. If not, then shouldn't you direct your questions to more reputable manufacturers?
Paul Cohen
Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 19:55:49 -0800
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@crl.com>
Subject: Re: new
sarrusophones
At 08:56 PM 4/2/98 EST, you wrote:
>I assume that you are thinking that UMI has the original molds and tooling and
>designs for the Conn sarrusophone from the 1920s? I would be surprised if any
>of that was still in existence. If not, then shouldn't you direct your
>questions to more reputable manufacturers?>Paul Cohen
Paul, it turns out your suspicions are correct. Any ideas who might be interested in such a venture?
Grant
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 23:40:12 -0500
From:
jimkatz@JohnAbbott.qc.ca (Jim Katz)
Subject: Re: list V1
#35
>I asked Conn how many sarrusophones they'd have to sell in order to make it
>worthwhile to start manufacturing again. The off-the-cuff estimate is that
>they'd have to be guaranteed sales of about 500 horns per year for at least
>10 years.>You know, that really isn't *that* many instruments, even for something
>like a sarrusophone.
I think you are letting your cheerful optimism get the best of you. I suspect they gave you that number to discourage any further inquiry. I`m sure they`d be happy to sell that many of anything! You are probably right when you ask how many contrabassoons are sold in a year. I`m sure it is a pretty tiny number.
Keep us all apprised of the results of your sign-up, though. Hope springs eternal, and I bet the company would tool up for a firm one-time prepaid order of fifty.
Jim Katz
End of list V1 #36