Klarinet Archive - Posting 000488.txt from 1996/12

From: Gary Young <gyoung@-----.COM>
Subj: Age of Selmer #7817 A clarinet
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 00:51:52 -0500

I am trying to figure out how old my Selmer A clarinet is, and would =
appreciate anyone's help. I bought it second-hand no later than 1955 =
and no earlier than 1953 (my memory is hazy). I bought it from Frank =
Kaspar in Chicago; I seem to recall he said someone in the CSO had =
played it, but I was just a kid and didn't pay much attention to what he =
said. It has the serial number 7817. =20

I checked the sneezy Selmer serial number listing, and found that all =
serial numbers in the likely time period are preceded by letters. As =
far as I can tell, my Selmer has no letter anywhere. Stamped on the =
wood are the following: a lyre, above "H. Selmer a Paris" (in a dotted =
oval), above the H/S logo, above the word "Brevete" (acute accent), =
above some illegible markings which appear to be four letters or =
numerals each followed by a period.

Can anyone tell me where to look for the letter before the serial =
number? Or what "Brevete" means? Or just when the clarinet was made, =
and how you can tell? Thanks!