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Grafton History

The Grafton was developed by Hector Sommaruga, an Italian living in London. The instrument takes its name from the street (Grafton Way) where his shop was initially located in the late 1940's. The decision to manufacture a saxophone from plastic was based upon the relative cheapness of the material rather than an improvement in tonal characteristics.

Provisional patent specifications (#'s 604,407 and 604,418) were applied for on September 14, 1945, and a non-working prototype was first shown in 1946. The instrument was conceived to have a plastic body; bell; and key guards; a brass neck (a plastic one would break in attachment); and a mechanism which incorporated a unique springing system. Many of the posts for attaching the mechanism were cast as part of the body.

The molding was subcontracted to the engineering firm of Dc La Rue, utilizing a plastic compound developed by Imperial Chemical Industries. Hector lacked the necessary financing to complete the project, and he was able to obtain the backing of Geoffrey Hawkes (of the firm Boosey and Hawkes) and John E. Dallas. The instrument was finally offered for sale to the public in 1950, at a price of 55 pounds, about half the cost on a conventional saxophone at the time.

The instrument was used by prominent saxophonists Ornette Coleman, Rudy Vallee and, of course, Charlie Parker, who used the Grafton only outside the United States due to a conflicting endorsement agreement.

Hector left the Dallas Company in 1953, and moved to France where he ran a motel until his death in 1985.

For a far greater in depth look into the history of the Grafton, have a look at "The Graftons Story" by Wally Horwood, published in 'Clarinet And Saxophone Society', December 1985.