The Hichwa-Rachor database contains four original Astor bassoons. One bassoon (Astor1-O-vanRijn) is attributed to George Astor, and two by Astor & Company. The workshop flourished in London c.1778-c.1831.
Astor Literature [Revised 7 February 2025]
Jansen, Will. The Bassoon: Its History, Construction, Makers, Players and Music, Vol. 1, 332. Frits Knuf, 1978.
Langeveld, Erik. Tentoonstelling van fagotten, prenten, boeken, en manuscripten uit de collectie van Henk de Wit, 17. Amsterdam: De Ijsbreker, 1992.
Lasocki, David. “New Light on Eighteenth-Century English Woodwind Makers from Newspaper Advertisements.” The Galpin Society Journal 63 (May 2010): 112–24.
Myers, Arnold. Historic Musical Instruments in the Edinburgh University Collection, Vol. 2, Part E, Fascicle ii: Bassoons.
Rice, Albert. Four Centuries of Musical Instruments: The Marlowe A. Sigal Collection, 213. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2015.
Waterhouse, William. The New Langwill Index. London: Tony Bingham, 1993.
Young, Phillip. 4900 Historical Woodwind Instruments. London: Tony Bingham, 1993.
Young, Phillip. Loan Exhibition of Historic Double Reed Instruments, 68. August 1988.
Astor, 6 key bassoon; Astor1-O-vanRijn
Astor1-O-vanRijn General Information
Astor1-O-vanRijn Data Spreadsheet
Astor, 8 key bassoon; Astor2-O-Sigal
Astor2-O-Sigal General Information
Astor2-O-Sigal Data Spreadsheet
Astor, 8 key bassoon; Astor3-O-Edinburgh
Astor3-O-Edinburgh General Information
Astor3-O-Edinburgh Data Spreadsheet
Astor, 6 key bassoon; Astor4-O-Veriam
Astor4-O-Veriam General Information v2