EXTRA-CLEAN VINTAGE BASSOON, KOHLERT BROTHERS,1955, ALL NEW PADS,NEW CASE&BOCALS

Description

WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY
2525 East Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67211
EXTRA-CLEAN VINTAGE BASSOON FROM THE WORKSHOP OF THE KOHLERT BROTHERS.
One joint at a time…
Bell section is stamped “Kohlert & Co. / Winnenden / (four point star),  wears 100% original varnish.  The Bb key is nickel plated, no wear to the plating. Socket is clean, no cracks.
Long joint has both tenons original. No cracks to the small tenon;  clean crack to the lower tenon, well-repaired, almost invisible.  Varnish is original, some touch-up (slightly darker color) to the under side.  Nickel plated keywork is without wear, all pads and corks are new.
Wing joint wears the same stamp that’s on the bell.  Keywork to high C (no high D), normal E-F# trill.  Tenon is original, with original nickel cap. Bore is very clean, no damage, no cracks, no scrapes or gouges to the bore.  Varnish is 99% original, minor touch-up to a surface scratch just above the E-F# trill.
Boot is very clean, no wood-rot, no cracks.  Varnish is 100% original, no cracks, no dings.  Small socket is brass-lined, the other wood. No cracks to the sockets.  Stamped “made in Germany /  47906”.  All new pads.
This would have been an early Kohlert, made only seven or eight years after the three brothers re-located to the Winnenden suburb of Stuttgart.
Simply said, this is a rather nice vintage bassoon that’s come to us in “nine and one-half out of ten” condition.   It wears basic keywork, but has the potential to (for a cost, of course) be up-graded to a pro quality instrument.
Bassoon specialist Bernd Moosmann’s father worked for the Kohlerts until 1966, which means he would have been at the bench when this instrument was created.  It’s an important point, as  Bernd Moosmann’s workshop, also not far from Stuttgart, is available to add high D, high E, to install water-tubes, to add rollers for the  right hand thumb or to do anything else required.  We’ve seen numerous examples of Bernd’s retro-fitting and can highly recommend his work.
Two new Fox bocals (or Moosmann bocals for a few dollars more…), new case.
Amazing that a sixty-five year old bassoon should come to us in such original condition.  At a “best buy” price, yet!
In January of 2021, our small workshop in Wichita celebrated sixty-eight years in business.  We are not in the 1952 Wichita telephone directory, but we ARE in the 1953.
Over the decades, we’ve repaired and restored hundreds of woodwind instruments, specializing in woodwinds from the early twentieth century and before.
We employ ten highly skilled full-time workers and enjoy, we’re happy to report, a sterling reputation for top-quality restoration and ethical transactions.
We are not amateurs, nor are we a “back bedroom” operation.
We would be pleased to furnish you with references attesting to the above.
*** WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY / WICHITA, KANSAS /  USA ***
*** A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR SENDING “ON APPROVAL”…
We’ve had the same policy for half a century, are always happy to send almost anything for a short trial period. Five days is, we believe, sufficient for a trained musician to decide if the item sent them is a good match.
A small percentage of instrument we send out are returned to us. Sometimes it’s a money issue, more often it’s “…you might consider taking lessons.” But as we always say, “If you don’t buy, we’ll still be friends.
”
We’ve had recent questions, though, about how we clean up returned approvals. You should know…
With recorders, clarinets, flutes, and oboes, we remove all the keywork, then give the bodies a quick bath. Soap and water, but not long enough to harm the finish. Keys are lightly sprayed with a disinfectant and pads are lightly swabbed with the same. Then, back in the case after a spray to the exterior and carrying handles of the case.
Not sure what the other shops are doing about this issue (I’ve asked and have had no replies), but we think our clean-up work is exactly what’s required to keep everybody safe.***
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Wichita Band Instrument Company is a small musical instrument emporium located in the center of the USA. We’ve been in business since 1953 and have had the same owner since 1963. Originally we were a repair shop that specialized in woodwind and sax restoration. Today we have 10 employees including FIVE of the finest repair technicians in the country. Virtually ALL the items we sell have been fully reconditioned in our own shop, although we do sell the occasional unrestored historical instruments each year.
Wichita Band’s service warranty is the same as it’s been for more than thirty years:
ALL new and all used instruments sold by Wichita Band Instrument Company come with our 24 month service warranty. It’s in addition to any factory guarantees. For two full years, we will repair or replace, whichever in our estimation is the more advisable, pads, corks, springs or other parts required, at no charge to the customer. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance charges. Cases and plating finishes are not covered by our service warranty but are sometimes covered by factory guarantees.
Wichita Band Instrument Company maintains a repair department capable of restoration work of the highest quality. Even though repairs are essentially free for the first two years, after that period has expired, we remain at your service to maintain and repair your musical equipment forever. It’s our “service after the sale” promise and has been since 1953!
In the event that a customer requires service under factory guarantees or Wichita Band’s service warranty, the item must be returned to us and not directly to the manufacturer.
Anything we sell can be sent to you for a short approval period without obligation. We collect NO SALES TAX, unless you’re lucky enough to live in Kansas. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance and must pre-pay back to us any freight charges on returned equipment. International shipping is available. Returned items will be refunded within 2 weeks of receiving the item. We’re happy to send any instrument “on approval” for five days, but ask the prospective buyer to pay shipping both ways on any returned instrument.
Ebay authorized payment methods:
PayPal or credit/debit card processed through our internet merchant account.
Buyers outside of the USA are responsible for all import duties and customs clearance charges in their respective countries. We may refuse paypal and/or credit card payments from some countries.
We’re happy to correspond with musicians, players, parents and enthusiasts of all types. Written appraisals are always available, but please don’t write or telephone and ask “what’s granny’s baritone sax worth?” Do an Ebay search and you’ll learn more than we could ever tell you.
Feel free to call or e-mail for any additional information.
Wichita Band Instrument Co.
800-835-3006 payment line (USA and Canada),
316-684-0291 outside the USA and Canada order line, and info line.