Klarinet Archive - Posting 000421.txt from 1997/11

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Blowout
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 10:51:22 -0500

About two years ago, we went through the "blowout" thread, and somewhere
in the archives there is a message which seems to me to offer a logical
explanation of the phenomenon. According to my recollection, someone was
talking about chemical changes that take place in the wood over a long
period of time. The process was referred to as "depolymerization." It
was described as an unavoidable and inexhorable occurance.

The person who wrote about this related an experiment that was made in the
factory of one of the French manufacturers, possibly LeBlanc. It seems
that they found a very old block of grenadilla, dating from perhaps 70 or
80 years ago, and tried to make a clarinet or an oboe from it. Normally,
when the wood billots are worked on a lathe, what results is a long string
of wood, much like might be expected from turning metal. However, in the
case of this older wood, all that came from the wood was a very fine dust.

Now, if this is true, those who believe that the material makes a lot of
difference in the way the instrument plays will want to replace their
older clarinets regularly. Those who contend that the material is a
negligible factor will have to find out whether "depolymerization" also
involves a change in the dimensions of the wood.

Can anyone find that old message in the archives?

Ed Lacy
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Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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