Klarinet Archive - Posting 000205.txt from 1996/01

From: Dan Oberlin <oberlin@-----.EDU>
Subj: o-rings
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 11:38:15 -0500

A couple of months ago the top tenon cork on the upper joint of
my R13 came loose. Not trusting the local repairmen, I sent the
instrument away for the repair and a touchup. Last week the cork
came off again. I didn't want to send the clarinet away a second time
and recalled a remark made once by Harry Schmidt, who used to be
the clarinet professor here at Florida State Univ., concerning
the use of o-rings on tenons in place of corks. I took the instrument
to a plumbing supply house, tried out a bunch of o-rings, and ended
up with a tight, secure, and yet very smooth fit of the barrel onto
the upper joint. The use of o-rings in this application is an obvious
thing to try. Just as obviously, it has not been adopted by the
community of repairmen. I wonder why.

Dan Oberlin
oberlin@-----.edu