Klarinet Archive - Posting 000358.txt from 1997/12

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Restoring a Clarinet
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 09:08:58 -0500

At 03:48 PM 12/7/97 -0500, Bryan Hardester wrote:
My questions are these: 1.
>Could you tell me anymore about what I have just purchased?

You've purchased a $10 clarinet. That's what I paid for mine. Actually,
yours is probably better than average. It is most likely silver-plated.
And may very well have been used in a military band, but with the USQMC
designation (Quartermaster Corps) is more likely from the Army.

and 2. How
>can I go about cleaning all of the black tarnish off of it. The instrument
>is in Great condition, but has been tarnished through the years. I can
>clean the bell and other big parts, but I don't know how to get to those
>hard to reach places. I believe that this clarinet will look new once all
>the tarnish is gone. It does need new pads (obviously) so I don't have
>any worries with loosing these.

Disassemble, take all pads and corks off, and dip all parts in Tarnex.
Then use conventional silver polish. Finish with something like a Selmer
plated finish polishing cloth. This treatment worked wonders with my
silver-plated Martin also sax. Complete repad/recork required after that.

>One more question... do you know what key it would have been in? Made in
>1937 by Holton.
>
Odds are it's in Bb. Eb is second choice, and should be obvious from
smaller size.

I really enjoy my old metal clarinet. I keep it in my truck so I can play
it whenever I get the urge. It can withstand the temperature extremes
without stress. Probably why the military used them.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.