Klarinet Archive - Posting 000442.txt from 1998/04

From: Edinger/Gilman <wde1@-----.com>
Subj: Ellsworth key
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 10:06:12 -0400

Shouryu and Gary V. mentioned the Ellsworth key described in the latest
issue of The Clarinet, and my reaction was identical to theirs:
confusion. From the text, it seems to be a key to allow "trills and
tremolandos" up to throat A and Bb from several notes below. It is an
extra key mounted on a rod that has its pivots apparently welded on top
of the posts that support the left-hand ring key cluster rod. On at
least one of my Bbs, it would probably interfere with the trill keys,
which in the photo look like they might have been moved outward a
little. The "touch pad" is for the RH index finger, and looks like a
flatter A key situated directly over the middle joint. The other end of
the rod is attached to a lever which apparently opens the A key, but it
isn't at all clear from the article that this is all it does.

Can anyone who knows anything straighten me/us out on this? "Cryptic"
is the word, Gary.

Bill Edinger