Klarinet Archive - Posting 000609.txt from 1996/05

From: Armand Ferland <Armand.Ferland@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: Nickel plating
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 09:57:23 -0400

>SCOTT M.
>gALVANIZING works by setting up an electrochemical cell in which the zinc
>actually corrodes in preference to the iron-containing material; when the zinc
>is all gone, it starts rusting. ZInc in an alloy behaves in various ways
>according to what state it is in.
>Roger Shilcock

Hello Roger and others,

There has been much said about metal alloys used for manufacturing
clarinet keys. I have been away several days and may have missed important
input on the subject, but what I have read seems to consider only the the
visual aspect of the question: the finish, the plating, the tarnishing of
the touch pieces, etc. It seems to me that that all are missing the point.
Clarinet keys are made of an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc which
is usually called nickel silver in English. In French, this alloy is called
"maillechort" after Maillot and Chorier, the two inventors of the alloy. It
is used in jewellry, in the manufacture of scientific instruments, and, of
course, it has been used all along to manufacture clarinet keys by all
better clarinet makers, not only because of its visual qualities nor
because of its "relative" resistance to tarnish or corrosion, but mainly
because of a more important property: it may be bent repeatedly without
breaking, allowing repairmen to repad clarinets and adjust keys without
risk.
Various platings may be used on the "maillechort" according to
taste but also for commercial and cosmetic reasons. However, makers of
professional quality instruments recommend silver plating. Personally, I
find that chrome is too slippery, nickel too sticky and discoloured when
the weather is hot and humid or when your fingers are sweating. To me
silver is just right for playing, has a beautiful rich colour, and does not
tarnish noticeably providing you pratice every day ;-)
Silverplated keys can be cleaned in seconds using a chamois cloth
rubbed with jeweller's rouge. The chamois may be kept permanently in a
clarinet case. By the way, I have been using the same chamois on all of my
clarinets for over 50 years. Also, the silver plating done at the factory
of better makers such as Selmer, Buffet, Leblanc, etc. will last the
lifetime of the clarinet.

Armand

   
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