Heckelphone Information

Last update:  02/10/2012 23:25:10

Credits

So much detailed information about Heckelphones has been provided by Peter Hurd that I feel special credit is due to him on this page. Mr. Hurd is the acting secretary of the North American Heckelphone Society. Thanks Peter!

Heckelphone model designations

The model number 36 is used by Heckel to designate the Heckelphone.

Model 36b

"German system", upper joint left hand C is played with middle finger as on the saxophone. It can also be played with the B fingering (left index) plus the upper right hand side key. Bb is played with A fingering (index+middle finger) plus lower right hand side key, as on the saxophone. The lower joint (right hand) is fingered like an oboe, EXCEPT: left hand cluster for little finger (Eb, low B, long F) has almost completely different key positions from what one would expect on any other model Heckelphone or oboe.

Model 36i

A precursor of the Conservatory system. It has a single right hand side key which activates vents for C (B sharp) and Bb (A sharp). The bottom joint is fingered like an oboe. The left hand small finger cluster is conventional Conservatory pattern.

Model 36k

A basic Conservatory system. It is fingered like an oboe throughout, except that F# key (right hand) is a split plate (this is standand on models 36k, 36 cons, and 36 voll cons). The upper part of the split plate is employed when playing upper joint Bb, the full plate is employed when playing F#. The purpose of this plate is to overcome the lack of an A resonance mechanism on the Heckelphone (A resonance is standard on English horn and oboe d'amore). Since the Heckelphone joints are separated above the G# key cup, it would be exceedingly difficult to engineer the inclusion of an A resonance mechanism.

Model 36 cons

Like 36k though somewhat advanced. This model has F resonance mechanism, articulated Eb, left hand cluster has low Bb key which on previous models was played (along with low A) by a right hand thumb key. Lower joint ring and lever keys for E and D replaced with solid keys.

Model 36 voll cons

Same as 36 cons except that a C-D trill has been added (upper joint key as well as lower joint key). The recent Model 36 voll cons instruments (since c. 1958?) have plateau solid keys throughout. Also, an articulated C# is now standard.

Heckelphone Notes

Pattern instrument

A prototype or experimental instrument, not intended to be sold as production work.

Heckelphone wood and finishes

The older Heckelphones all seem to have a dark brown finish. Later model 36 voll cons instruments (at least post 1963) have a bright red finish. The wood is the same as they use for bassoons: Austrian or Yugoslavian mountain maplewood.

Muting bell

A separate bell which mutes the sound of the instrument.

Stencil instrument

An instrument built with no labelling intended to be "branded" and sold by another company as their own instrument.

Wall thicknesses

The earliest Heckelphones (some model 36b, and a few [perhaps] model 36i), have extremely thin walls. Later, beginning 1921(?), a medium-thick wall instrument was produced (models 36b, model 36i, and possibly one or two model 36k). In 1932(?), a truly thick wall instrument became the standard which persists up to this day.

Heckelphone Serial Numbers

There is a great deal of uncertainty about how many Heckelphones have been produced. There are at least 2 known that have no serial number, and one "stencil instrument" with no serial number.

Serial Number	Date	Known Owners	Pictures	Description	History	Known Sales
Terz Heckelphone in Eb
151	??
3519	1915
Piccolo Heckelphones in F
006	3 1905
007	6 1905
008	6 1905
011	9 1905
012	10 1905
015	2 1906
016	2 1906
017	2 1906
4308	2 1933			Model 36o. Apparently all other piccolo heckelphones were model 36m. The only difference between the two models has to do with the layout of the right hand little finger cluster.
4874	2 1955
4876	2 1955
Heckelphones in C
none	?			Model 36b stencil instrument built for Mollenhauer
none	1925			Model 36b
001	1904
002	1904
003	1905
004	1904
009	1905
010	1905				Used in the premier performance of Strauss' Salome on Dec 9, 1905.
013	1906			Model 36b
014	1906
019	1907			Model 36b	Modernized in the 50s by Franz Groffy at Heckel to become closer to a model 36i.
021	1908			Model 36a	In the Frankfurt Museum Vidriana
022	1908				In Stuttgart (ex-Budapest Opera)
024	1908
025	1908	1		Model 36a	Minor keywork done on the instrument years ago by Albert Laubin, the oboe manufacturerer. There is a bridge mechanism that allows the player to play b-flat and c using the regular conservatory fingering instead of the side keys.
026	1908	1		Model 36a
029	1909
032	1910		All joints Full length Bell Top joint Top joint (side) Bottom joint (front) Bottom joint (back) Bottom joint (damage) Top of all joints Bottom of all joints		Sat in an attic where it received extensive water damage	12/2010 (eBay) 2/2012 (eBay)
033	1910			Model 36b	Used by John Ellis for his famous recording of the Hindemith Trio.
034	1910
040	1911
043	1908			Model 36a (to Low Bb)	Lisbon National Instrument Museum
046	1912
050	1911	1		Model 36i	Rebuilt keywork to become close to a 36i. Used in the Hoffnung Concerts for Arnold's .	11/2001 (eBay-sold)
051	10 1911
052	10 1911
3283	7 1910	1		Model 36b	Stolen in Detroit
3414	7 1912
3427	12 1912			Flame maple
3432	11 1912
3476	2 1913
3628	9 1919	1		Model 36b	Possibly was on display at Ponte's Music in NYC circa 1970.
none	1920			Model 36i, pattern instrument
3756	1 1923			Conservatory, high pitch
3770	1 1923			Conservatory, high pitch
3779	7 1923			Silver plated
3805	1923			Believed to be a model 36b
3809	1 1923			Model 36b, High pitch	Used by the Chicago Symphony on occaision.
3810	2 1923	1		Model 36b, high pitch
3881	7 1924
3896	10 1924
3915	5 1925			high pitch
3916	5 1925	1		Model 36b, high pitch	Used in the Detroit Symphony.
3917	5 1925			high pitch
3922	7 1925			high pitch
3923	7 1925
3928	9 1925			Conservatory
3929	9 1925			Conservatory, high pitch
3950	1 1926			Silver plated
3951	2 1926			Model 36i, Conservatory, high pitch. This appears to be the first instrument to have the three-hole bell with perforated bottom plate and center floor peg.
3970	4 1926	1		Conservatory
3985	9 1926			Model 36i, high pitch
4008	1 1927			Model 36i, high pitch
4010	2 1927			Model 36i, high pitch
4013	3 1927			Model 36i, high pitch
4014	5 1927		In Case Front Left Side Right Side	Model 36i, high pitch	Used in the 2003 Milwaukee Opera Orchestra's production of Strauss' Salome.	1/2004 eBay
4018	10 1927			Model 36b
4019	1 1928			Model 36b
4026	12 1927			high pitch
4051	10 1928			high pitch
4052	10 1928			high pitch
4053	10 1928			high pitch
4054	10 1928			Model 36i, low pitch
4055	11 1928			Model 36i, high pitch
4097	7 1929			Nickel plated
4107	8 1929			Model 36i, Nickel plated
4132	4 1930			Model 36k
4141	10 1930			Model 36i, nickel plated, muting bell
4142	1930			Model 36k	Used in the Utah Symphony
4143	9 1930			Model 36i, nickel plated, muting bell
4145	2 1932			Model 36i, nickel plated
4146	4 1932			Model 36k, nickel plated
4244	1 1934	1		Completely restored to new condition by Thomas Hiniker. Full conservatory system, has f resonance key added by Heckel circa 1960. Articulated F#-G# mechanism added by T. Hiniker. Gold plated by Anderson 2002: 1 copper strike , 2 silver, three layers gold.	Used in the MGM Studio Orchestra from 1962 until 1996. Veteran of many film score recordings, including Spartacus.	6/2002 (bassoon.org) 10/2002 (bassoon.org and idrs.org) sold 2/2005
4530	9 1937			Model 36b
4701	12 1940			Model 36i
4702	1 1946			Model 36i
4720	1947			Model 36i	Stockholm-Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
4773	5 1950	2		Model 36k
4775	5 1950			Model 36k
4777	5 1950			Model 36i	This is a Heckel rental instrument
4784	5 1951			Model 36k
4786	5 1951			Model 36k
4788	5 1951			Model 36k, special [this is a factory notation]
4855	1956
4864	2 1955			Model 36k
4876	1957
4895	1957
4900	3 1955			Model 36k, to low B
4918	5 1956			Model 36k
4920	7 1956			Model 36k
4925	1956
4935	3 1957			Model 36k
4937	3 1957			Model 36i
4932	1957
4939	1957
4946	1957
4954	1957
4961	9 1957			Model 36v
4962	1957
4963	9 1957	1	In case Top joint Bottom joint Close-up of bell	Model 36 Voll Cons with muting bell, to low A, with all possible keys, including C# articulation, and right hand G# key, F resonance. Silver plated.	Used in the Edmunton and Calgary Symphonies.	5/2002 (bassoon.org) 10/2002 (bassoon.org) 6/2002 (ebay) 6/2003 (idrs) 7/2003 (IDRS)
4971	7 1972			Model 36v
4973	7 1972			Model 36v
4975	7 1972			Model 36v, to low B
4976	7 1972			Model 36v, to low B
4977	12 1978			Model 36v, to low B
4978	8 1980			Model 36i
4979	11 1982			Model 36i
4980	11 1981			Model 36v
4981	2 1982			Model 36v	Used in the New York Philharmonic
4982	11 1982			Model 36v
4983	10 1983			Model 36v
4984	12 1983			Model 36v
4985	7 1984			Model 36v
4986	12 1984			Model 36v
4987	9 1986			Model 36v
4987	5 1987			Model 36v
4989	10 1987			Model 36v
4990	4 1989			Model 36v
4991	9 1989			Model 36v
4992	10 1990			Model 36v
4993	12 1990			Model 36v
4994	7 1991			Model 36k
4995	12 1991			Model 36v
5000s
5000	6 1994			Model 36v
5001	6 1995			Model 36v
5002	8 1995			Model 36v
5003	12 1996			Model 36v
5004	3 1998			Model 36v
5005	4 1999			Model 36v
5006	6 1999			Model 36v
5007	10 1999			Model 36v
5008	2 2000			Model 36v
5009	10 2001			Model 36v
5010	12 2001			Model 36v
5011	1 2003	1		Model 36v. Model for new keywork design changes. Oboe-like key cluster for the little finger, left hand replaced with a lever system reminiscent of the earlier Heckelphones.
5012	2002				Shown at the 2002 IDRS convention at Banff Canada.
5013	2004				Confirmed as first Heckelphone shipped in 2004 by the factory.
5021	9 2010	1

Summary statistics for Heckel Heckelphones in our database

Last update:  02/10/2012 23:25:10

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