SECOND PERIOD-BARE BRASS BELL
After or at the end of the split bell key period, which probably lasted until 1935, new saxophones were developed. During this period, the F.X. Hüller saxophone department must have been in an experimental phase, especially when it comes to the key work of these second period saxophones.
All the keys moved to the right side of the saxophone. A curved top right hand high E side key replaced the flat, first period, one and the angle of the alto neck changed from 70 degrees to 80 degrees.
The bare brass upper outside of the bell was the most desirable finish during this period, which contained the next four models: ‘’Professional’’, ‘’Champion’’, ‘’World’’ and ‘’World de luxe’’.
The early ‘’Professional’’ had a three-ring micro tuner, no front F key, no extra triller keys and a small LH pinky-table
The early ‘’Champion’’ had a three-ring micro tuner, a front F key, no extra triller keys.
‘’Made in Czechoslovakia’’ stamped ‘’Champions’’ had no micro tuner and deviant serial numbers.
The early ‘’World’’ had a three-ring micro tuner, a front F key, G-G#, low D-D# and a high C#-D triller keys.
The early ‘’World de Luxe’’ was like the ‘’World’’ plus a high D-D# triller key, custom engraving and a full mother of pearl treatment.
During the early 2nd period, the shape of the RH pinky-table and the G# nail file key changed on the first three models.
A Chez collector was so kind to send me pictures of a stunning early 2nd period alto.
This saxophone was build for Professor Emil Weber who headed, from about 1930/1931 till the end of the war in 1945, the Musikfachschule in Graslitz.
This beautiful horn has all the features of a ‘’World de Luxe’’ model. On top of that it is custom engraved ( the early 1st period naked lady, was dressed up for this occasion ) and richly ornate,
it has special designed key protectors and is keyed up to high G. A truly unique horn!
It is the most luxurious pre-war saxophone i have ever seen, a work of art!
I own its succesor, an extaordinary and also extremely rare alto. It was built in between the early and late second period but it tends to lean on the late side. It was the very first model that came with the V-shaped body-to-bell brace. Unfortunately it's missing the original neck.
I ordered a solid silver neck for it at Gloger-Handkraft, who used a ''Klingson'' neck (see pictures of the ‘’Klingson’’ alto on the playing page) as an example and Karsten Gloger did a wonderful job!
It has G-G#, high C#-D, high and low D-D# triller keys, a roller on the little Bb key, only F.X. Hüller engraved on the bell, a full mother of pearl treatment, keyed up to high G and a totally different left hand pinky cluster.
Unlike all the other FXH saxophones i've seen so far this horn's low C# key moved comepletely to the right side of the bow to make room for the C#, B and Bb rods, who were positioned down the front of the body, instead of the side, as with modern saxophones.
The special designed LH pinky cluster and the short key arms on low C#, B and Bb makes it possible to play just as fast in the extreme lower register as you can in any other part of the scale.
I can only guess why FXH did not continued this innovation? All i know it was claimed by Selmer, who first used it on their Balanced Action models.
Thecnically, this horn must have been the ultimate FXH saxophone!
The late second period development clearly shows the way of designing towards the third period.
Late 2nd period saxophones are almost identical to 3rd period saxophones.
Newly designed pinky-tables, triller keys, v-shaped body-to-bell braces and the angle of the alto neck changed from 80 degrees to 65 degrees.
The late ‘’Professional’’ had a three-ring micro tuner, no front F key, no extra triller keys, a smaller LH pinky table and a second type body-to-bell brace.
The late ‘’Champion’’ had a three-ring micro tuner, a front F key, and a G-G# triller key.
The late ‘’World’’ had a three-ring micro tuner, a front F key, G-G#, low D-D# triller keys and a split mechanism high D key.
The late ‘’World de luxe’’ was like the ‘’World’’ plus a high D-D# triller key, a roller on the little Bb key, custom engraving and a full mother of pearl treatment.
A German collector told me the ‘’Professional’’ models weigh lighter and sounding brighter then the ''World'' and the ''Champion'' saxophones.
The early second period saxophones have a straight (first period) body-to-bell brace, around serial number 22350 the straight brace was replaced by a second type brace ( all models ).
The late horns from this period have a V-shaped brace, except for the ''Professional'' model which kept the second type brace ( see pictures ).
 
first row: Varsity tenor ( early 2nd period FXH stencil ),  these were sold in the UK. Unlike my other FXH tenors the Varsity's strap hook ring keeps the horn perfectly balanced
second row: early 2nd period F.X. Hüller Professional alto       
third and fourth row: early 2nd period alto ( special model, keyed up to high G, engraving says: verfertigt von Professor Emil Weber in der fabrik F.X. Hüller in Graslitz )          
fifth row: early 2nd period F.X. Hüller  World alto  with a low D-D# triller key and a high C#-D triller key          
sixt and seventh row: early 2nd period F.X. Hüller Champion baritone, made during the 2nd period only, extremely rare, source Tobi
eight row: pic 1 to 3 body to bell braces / pic 4  early octave mechanism connection ( cigar cutter shaped ) pic 5 late octave mechanism connection ( guillotine shaped )
ninth and tenth row: Hammerschmidt Klingson tenor ( late 2nd period FXH stencil )
eleventh row: Klingsor tenor was made in 1968 by Hammerschmidt
twelfth and thirteenth row: late 2nd period extraordinary  F.X. Hüller alto ( top model, keyed up to high G, the upper stack is like the former word de luxe models, the extreme lower stack was comepletely redesigned )
fourteenth row: late 2nd period F.X. Hüller Champion alto
fifteenth row: late second period F.X. Hüller World alto, transitional model SN 23650, with a low D-D# triller key and a high D System Menge key, source eBay.de