A Belgian inventor called Adolphe Sax (1814-94) invented the Saxophone in1846. Adolphe was renowned for re-designing the low end of the bass clarinet by adding a curved bell, inventing the Saxhorn family (better known as the tenor horns) and various other lesser-known instruments. Obviously his most famous was the Saxophone:

"A metal, single reed instrument invented c 1840 by Adolphe Sax. It has a conical bore like an oboe but uses a clarinet style reed and is made in various sizes esp. for use in military bands and in Jazz." - Dictionary of Music by Philip D. Morehead

The Saxophone was patented in 1864 after a large musical instrument show in Paris. Adolphe Sax was due to exhibit his saxophones earlier in the 1850's but mysteriously his instruments were destroyed by purists of the day. The family of saxophones consisted of twelve from high to low pitch and also in different keys.

Once the saxophone had been displayed the military were the only people interested in the instrument, this was because it fitted into the band as it was a transposing instrument, the most common sax was the C melody, this was in concert pitch. Today there are six saxophones in the family.