Klarinet Archive - Posting 000123.txt from 1994/02

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Older clarinets
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 1994 19:09:37 -0500

Cary mentions that swabbing might well be a significant culprit
with respect to tiring out older instruments.

Cary what difference would there be with respect to bassoons which
also swab, though not as frequently? Would maple be less likely
to be affected by swabbing? Also, in the days of wooden flutes,
they were swabbed frequently but I've heard little news about
those instruments aging swiftly. The lower joints of oboes are
swabbed with chamois, the upper with a feather. Is such action
alleged to affect the oboe? If so, I've never heard of it.

And finally, how does one determine how much material is removed
by swabbing say over a 30 years period with a piece of silk. I
would be more understanding if wool were involved, but silk? Cotton
too would give the impression of doing little damage, but silk is as
gentle as it comes.

While it may sound culpable, where is the evidence with respect to
loss of material through swabbing by type of cloth? It's easy to
say, but hard to establish as being true. It is the kind of thing
that is easy to believe with no evidence in support of the
hypothesis.

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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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