Klarinet Archive - Posting 000757.txt from 1998/09

From: Ed Maurey <edsshop@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] Solid Aluminum Clarinets?
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:31:32 -0400

Aluminum would be a disaster in even a slightly cool playing environment.
Aluminum's spectacular thermal conductivity would turn a clarinet into a "rain
machine" of great efficiency!
Ed Maurey

Dee Hays wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: DGross1226@-----.com>
> To: klarinet@-----.org>
> 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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