Klarinet Archive - Posting 000205.txt from 1994/03

From: "Dr. Ronald P. Monsen" <RPMONS00@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: How much should I pay for a nice metal clarinet?
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 1994 10:10:07 -0500

I have heard of purchases for these items at the $15 to $25 range--they
make wonderful lamps! They really do. The one that would be of interest
to me is the golden White. It was the first clarinet my parents rented for
me from Beihoff Music in Milwaukee a few years back. It had a wonderful
white plastic mouthpiece and an imitation crocodile case.

Recently Pi purchased a five piece silver clarinet made in 1935 by Selmer
of Paris--it has a slim line metal mouthpiece as well. It is an example of
a major maker trying to enter the pro line-up with a metal instrument.
Haynes of Boston also experimented in the 30's. There entry had a very

unique "double-walled" feature. You aopened a tube at the top and bottom
and blew air into it to warm it up. Selmer (I think) discarded the plan
for Image reasons. The metal clarinets of the period were considered truly
student quality. But--how many times have you seen professional flutists-
on a regular basis play on wooden flutes? At one time the metal flute was
considered "outside" the norm.

Ron