Sax, Adolphe (Antoine-Joseph) (1814-1894)

Belgian instrument maker. He made several improvements in wind instruments and established himself in Paris in 1842. His chief inventions are the saxhorn and the saxophone.

He studied flute and clarinet at the Brussels Conservatory and worked in the business established in Brussels by his father Charles Joseph Sax (1791-1865), who made wind instruments and produced several inventions, especially in connection with horns and other brass instruments. Adolphe's brother Alphonse Sax (1822-1874) made some inventions in connection with the valves of brass instruments and established himself independently in Paris, but did not succeed.