You know the cone shaped mute, with the holes in the top, that the Kid     used often throughout his life. Well, 2 weeks ago (June 2011) I was lucky enough to get one of the originals that were made!

I have used a copy that I had made for years, but to have the original thing makes me overjoyed. It is stamped on the side, Magin & Mayer Saxonette Co., Belleville ,Ill. Patent apl. 1919.

I know there has been talk for years about whether or not it was hand made or not. Obviously some were made, and not many survived.

I hope to use the mute on all my future gigs with my Woodland Jazz Band and do my best to keep the memory, and music, alive, from the greatest slideman ever born.

P.S. The mute also makes a good weapon if I get into a fight with my bass player!!!
(See Joe Darenbourg´s writings for that story).

Long live the Kid

Kindly Mike Owen

My name is Dutch Uithoven.  I am a professional musician living in Central Florida, USA.  I am also the proprietor and owner of VintageMutes.com.

Mike Owen and I are friends and we had discussed about 8-9 years ago whether the Ory mute was manufactured as such or just an improvised piece of kitchen equipment he used.  

A few years back obtained one of them - a Magin & Mayer Saxonette mute for trombone (they were also made for trumpet).  I contacted Mike Owen when I found it.   And told him "the next one I find is yours"  and sure enough I found one and sent it to him last April at French Quarter fest.