Meyer

Frank and Edward Meyer began making saxophone mouthpieces around 1916. In 1931, they notably patented a bite-plate inlay for metal mouthpieces in collaboration with Otto Link. The Meyer Bros Mouthpiece Company was officially founded in 1936, releasing its first metal mouthpiece. This era included the production of the ‘True Flex’ facing (1937) and the highly acclaimed ‘Meyer Bros. New York’ models (from 1948) which came in small, medium, and large chambers. These vintage mouthpieces, especially the medium-chambered alto models, are considered highly sought-after “Holy Grail” items by collectors and professional musicians for their rich, warm sound.

During 1960 – 1971, they released the “New York USA” models, known for a slightly thinner body that offered a more resonant, brighter sound while retaining the rounded inner sidewalls of the earlier models. In 1971, the Meyer company was sold to the JJ Babbitt Company, a major manufacturer of saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces based in Elkhart, Indiana. J.J. Babbitt continues to manufacture Meyer mouthpieces today, using hand-finishing techniques and high-quality hard rubber developed to emulate the original sound.