Klarinet Archive - Posting 000751.txt from 1998/09

From: DGross1226@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Solid Aluminum Clarinets?
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:28:12 -0400

In a message dated 98-09-21 16:21:30 EDT, Tim Roberts writes:

<< It seems to me that the real answer is to eliminate the unjustified
prejudice
against plastic, thus encouraging manufacturers to produce plastic horns with
the same care and precision applied to wood instruments.>>

Noting the "success" over the years of the aluminum barrels made by Don Getzen
at DEG, it occurred to me that the one material that hasn't been mentioned (or
perhaps it was and I was on a mental vacation) is aluminum. With a virtually
unlimited array of alloys, heat treatments, etc., has any manufacturer
seriously considered using cast aluminum for clarinets?

Couldn't the technicians at Buffet just as easily chuck up a cast aluminum
billet and use essentially the same tooling it uses for its Mpingo clarinets?
When it's finally turned and bored out to the exact dimensions as an R-13 for
example, and the tone and post holes added, the aluminum horn is then black
anodized and the keywork added. Seems like the machinability, consistency and
stability of the material would lend itself to a clarinet that would require
very little ongoing maintenance with regard to refacing tone holes, etc. and
be completely crack resistant.

Just a thought...

Don Gross
La Canada, California

-------------------------------------------------------------------------