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An Englishman called Ben Davis was demobbed
from the British Army in 1919, after the First World War, just
when Dixieland jazz and dance music was becoming popular in the
UK. being fascinated by the new sounds, Ben taught himself to
play the saxaphone. He played with many of the big bands in the
country, and finally formed his own.
Ben was a man of considerable drive
and ambition,seeing further potential on the business side of
the music Instustry and following a meeting with Henri Selmer
in 1928, Ben established the Selmer Company in London, at No 12
Moor Street . The first premises were soon outgrown by 1933, when
the business was moved to 114-116, Charing Cross Rd.in the Centre
of London which was there head Office and Showroom until the 70's.The
company's greatest period of expansion was from 1934 to the start
of World War II in 1939. By then Selmer was the biggest company
in the British musical instrument industry. After the war, Ben's
brother Lew Davis, who was a professional trombonist, joined the
company. They opened another shop in Charring Cross Road run by
Lew Davis specializing in Brass and woodwind instruments.
The Selmer company remained and established
its sucessful business at the Charring Cross Road address which
was in the centre of London untill the early 70's.
Selmer London were major importers
of Brass and wind instruments. Apart from being the exclusive
UK Distributor for Selmer Paris , they had there own
brand names, which were very successful .Such Student Lines
as ,Console and Sterling Clarinets,Flutes and Oboes, Gold Seal
Flutes ."Karl Meyer "and "Pennsylvania Student
Saxophones" followed later by the "Super Pennsylvania
" which was made by Yanagisawa in Japan and was marketed
as a step up horn.
During the 60's Selmer went into manaufacturing amplification
and importing famous names such as Hofner ,Gibson,Fender Guitars
and distributing their own brands like the "Futurama"
guitar made in the Czech Republic,all with great success. In the
early 60's Selmer were the main agents for the US made Lowry organs.
In 1972 Selmer moved their operation to Woolpack Lane in Braintree
Essex. I remember at the time the Selmer Mk6 production had ceased
and my patrtner L:aurie Naiff and I bought the remaining stocks
they had in their warehouse a total of 45 saxes some in silver
some in two tone, some F# keys,some had low A bells. When the
Mark VII's eventually became available in London ,they were a
hard to sell product. The main complaint was the the left hand
little finger cluster, it seemed that the instrument was designed
for a Gorrila ,compared with the comfortable Six. In 1974 I was
at a trade show in Chicago and flew into New York for the Newport
Jazz Festival, I got very friendly with the horn players in the
Gillespie Band who were appearing at the Buddy Rich club,we met
every night before the show for a drink, then I would have a meal
and watch the the Band for the rest of the night. I mentioned
that I had Mark VII alto's and Tenor's in my Take Five London
store they were eager to see them ,so I flew them over for them
to give them a try.They were not impressed ,in the end I sold
them to Rod Baltimore on 48th Street. Rod thought they were great
instruments.
At that time in Rod's store he had one of these Yanagisawa Soprano
Saxophones , in London we had never heard of them. At the time
they were very popular with the American pro players. I had a
closer look at one and reconised it as the "Selmer Super
Pennsylvania" that we were selling back in London as a step
up instrument from the Selmer "Karl Meyer" and the Selmer
"Pennsylvania "saxes. The same sax was also turning
up with different names from places like South Africa.
During this time (1974) the new Mk7 was being introduced into
the UK , they were only producing Alto's and Tenor's which the
Soprano market was left open. This was a major coup for Yanagisawa
being able to market under their own name and put them their name
on the map.
During this same period a very similar
situation help Yamaha .The Selmer Mk7 not being that easily accepted
by the profession ( mainly for the Gorrila like fingering) left
the market open in the UK in which Yamaha took advantage and got
in with their model 62 thanks to the expertise of Bill Lewington
the Yamaha importer at the time.
Selmer London was evetually sold
to Norlin USA in the 80's
Ben Davis retired to the south of
France and lived well into his late nineties . In the UK he left
a great legacy and a hard act to follow. HENRI
SELMER COMPANY UK |
