This page continues to be a work in progress. I am currently in the process of trying to track down some information on Keilwerth saxophones made in the last 25 years vis-à-vis their serial numbers. I will update this chart further when I get [hopefully] the updated serial information after the company’s move to the Markneukirchen factory—and especially after they were taken over by Buffet.
In the meantime, if you can provide me with any info on a horn you bought NEW—or have the original receipt of sale for—since the Buffet takeover of JK, please reach out to me. I would really appreciate it. I need the following information about the saxophone you own:
- Date it was originally bought.
- First 3 digits, at least, of the serial number.
- Model (SX90, SX90R, MKX, etc)
A few points about the Julius Keilwerth serial number chart
- The majority information came from Keilwerth directly, and much of it has been corroborated by a few German saxophone historians. Is it perfect? Likely not. There was a lot of geopolitical stuff going on that likely interfered with perfect recordkeeping. 😉
- Speaking of geopolitical stuff, after Julius Keilwerth and his family fled Graslitz for Germany, Amati took over the former JK plant and started producing their own Toneking saxophones. They even kept up with the original JK serial numbers. Amati Tonekings are quite easy to spot though. I have some in the Bassic Sax Gallery for you to make it easier for you to avoid buying one by accident.
- Yes, true Keilwerth-made stencils that are copies of Toneking, The New King, etc saxophones are covered by this serial number chart.
Serial Number |
Production Year |
0001 |
1925-1930 |
1101 |
1931 |
1701 |
1932 |
2501 |
1933 |
3501 |
1934 |
5001 |
1935 |
7001 |
1936 |
9001 |
1937 |
11001 |
1938 |
13501 |
1939 |
16001 |
1940 |
17501 |
1941 |
18501 |
1942 |
19101 |
1943 |
19601 (approx.) |
1944 -1945 |
Serial number |
Production Year |
20001 |
1946-1947 |
20100 |
1948 |
20101 |
1949 |
20351 |
1950 |
20751 |
1951 |
21351 |
1952 |
22151 |
1953 |
23151 |
1954 |
23351 |
1955 |
24751 |
1956 |
27751 |
1957 |
30751 |
1958 |
33751 |
1959 |
36751 |
1960 |
39751 |
1961 |
42751 |
1962 |
45751 |
1963 |
48751 |
1964 |
49801 |
1965 |
54751 |
1966 |
57751 |
1967 |
60751 |
1968 |
63751 |
1969 |
65601 |
1970 |
67451 |
1971 |
69301 |
1972 |
71151 |
1973 |
73001 |
1974 |
74451 |
1975 |
75901 |
1976 |
77351 |
1977 |
78801 |
1978 |
80251 |
1979 |
81701 |
1980 |
83151 |
1981 |
84601 |
1982 |
86051 |
1983 |
87501 |
1984 |
88951 |
1985 |
90401 |
1986 |
91426 |
1987 |
92451 |
1988 |
Serial number |
Production Year |
93476 |
1989 |
94501 |
1990 |
96001 |
1991 |
97251 |
1992 |
99001 |
1993 |
100751 |
1994 |
102501 |
1995 |
104251 |
1996 |
106001 |
1997 |
107901 |
1998 |
110501 |
1999 |
114850 |
2000 |
112000 |
2005 |
Serial Number |
Production Year |
126055 |
2010 |
127850 |
2014 |

