Klarinet Archive - Posting 000221.txt from 1997/11

From: njs5@-----.uk (Nick Shackleton)
Subj: Re: Leblanc Throat mechanism
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 10:15:54 -0500

Leblanc used to make a throat Bb mechanism known as the SK mechanism. In
Stubbins' book he offensively accuses Anthony Baines of drawing such a
mechanism and claiming it as a German invention wherease he (Stubbins)
claims that he invented it. Since the mechanism Baines illustrates is in
fact a pre 2nd world war German design I had always assumed that there was
nothing original in the SK mechanism. However I recently obtained a Leblanc
with the SK mechanism and it is quite ingeniously made and, unlike the
mechanism drawn by Baines, it actually switches to a different hole for Bb
rather than adding an additional vent for that note. This SK concept was
certainly not invented by Stubbins (D J Blaikley patented such a devise for
Boosey & Co around a century ago) but it is very cleverly designed. Does
anybody know whether this SK mechanism is what Leblanc are offering now?
Nick
Nick Shackleton, University of Cambridge, Godwin Laboratory,
Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RS, UK
phone: (44) 1223 334876
fax: (44) 1223 334871
home phone 1223 311938
e-mail: NJS5@-----.uk

   
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