In 1877, Wilhelm Heckel first began to number the Heckel instruments, the first numbered bassoon was #3001. Wilhelm surpassed the number of instruments produced by Heckel by this time, which amounted to around 3000 pieces.
Number #3001 and the smallest contrabassoon
In 1877, Wilhelm Heckel and his workshop master, Friedrich Stritter, succeeded in building the smallest contrabassoon to date. This instrument was characterised by its low height and weight. Therefore, it was very well suited to marching and so was predestined for military music. Wilhelm Heckel patented the redesign of the contrabassoon in the same year.
Patent for the wooden contrabassoon
Patent for the wooden contrabassoon
Patent for the wooden contrabassoon