Klarinet Archive - Posting 000756.txt from 1998/09

From: "Dee Hays" <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Solid Aluminum Clarinets?
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:22:36 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: DGross1226@-----.com>
Date: Monday, September 21, 1998 5:38 PM
Subject: [kl] Solid Aluminum Clarinets?

>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...

Metal clarinets were made in great numbers earlier in this century. While
most were made for the student/marching trade, there were some designed for
professionals. However for whatever reason they did not really catch on
although they were apparently very good. When good plastics became
available, they appear to have pushed the metal clarinet off the market in
the student end of things.

Using cast material would be very expensive. When metal clarinets were
made, they were formed from rolled sheet stock. Aluminum would have no
special advantage over the metals used in the past other than that it would
be lighter in weight.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

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