- 1841 - Adolphe Sax first showed his creation (a C bass saxophone) to the composer Hector Berlioz. The great composer was impressed by the uniqueness and versatility of the instrument. (Estrella) - 1842 - Adolphe Sax went to Paris. On June 12, Hector Berlioz published an article in the Paris magazine "Journal des Debats" describing the saxophone. (Estrella)
- 1844 - Adolphe Sax reveals his creation to the public at the Paris Industrial Exhibition. On February 3, 1844, Adolphe's good friend Hector Berlioz conducts a concert featuring his choral work in an arrangement called Chant Sacre featuring the saxophone. In December, the saxophone had its orchestral debut at the Paris Conservatory opera "Last King of Juda" by Georges Kastner. (Estrella)
- 1845 - French military bands during this time used oboes, bassoons, and french horns, but Adolphe replaced these with the Bb and Eb saxhorns. (Estrella)
- 1846 - Adolphe Sax obtained a patent for his saxophones that had 14 variations. Among them are E flat sopranino, F sopranino, B flat soprano, C soprano, E flat alto, F alto, B flat tenor, C tenor, E flat baritone, B flat bass, C bass, E flat contrabass and F contrabass. (Estrella)
- 1847 - On February 14 in Paris, a saxophone school was created. It was set up at "Gymnase Musical," a military band school. (Estrella)
- 1858 - Adolphe Sax becomes a professor at the Paris Conservatory. (Estrella)
- 1866 - The patent for the saxophone expired and the Millereau Co. patents the saxophone featuring a forked F# key. (Estrella)
- 1875 - Goumas patented the saxophone with a fingering similar to the clarinet's Boehm system. (Estrella)
- 1881 - Adolphe extends his original patent for the saxophone. He also made changes to the instrument such as lengthening the bell to include Bb and A and extended the instrument's range to F# and G using the fourth octave key. (Estrella)
- 1885 - The first saxophone was built in the US by Gus Buescher. (Estrella)
- 1886 - The saxophone underwent changes again: the right-hand C trill key was devised and half-hole system for the first fingers of both hands was created. (Estrella)
- 1888 - The single octave key for the saxophone was invented and rollers for low Eb and C was added. (Estrella)
- 1894 - Adolphe Sax died. His son, Adolphe Edouard, took over the business. After Adolphe's death, the saxophone continued to undergo changes, books for the saxophone were published and composers/musicians continued to include the sax in their performances. In 1914, the saxophone entered the world of jazz bands. In 1928, the Sax factory was sold to the Henri Selmer Company. To this day, many manufacturers of musical instruments create their own line of saxophones and it continues to enjoy a prominent position in jazz bands. (Estrella)