Klarinet Archive - Posting 001098.txt from 1999/11

From: DPhilpot@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Frank Wells
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 21:57:37 -0500

Information on Frank Wells: Frank began work as a clarinet mouthpiece maker
when he became part of the Stowell-Wells-Schneider company in the early
1950's. He was a machinist and trumpet player. Jerry Stowell of the Chicago
Symphony funded the company and tested the product for quality and
consistency. I remember meeting Schneider, who seemed like a real grump,
during an early visit to their company (1954?) but I do not think he remained
with the company terribly long. Sometime in the 60's I think, Wells and
Stowell broke up the company with Wells keeping the equipment. Wells simply
filed the other two names off the mouthpiece trademark stamp, so some of the
early Wells mps. still had a faint trace of the other two names. Frank had
shops in several locations north of the loop and for a time was in Schilke's
building on S. Wabash. His last location was indeed at the Saxophone Shop in
Evanston. The blanks were original designs made by Babbitt with Stowell's
input. Early blanks were rather short, later ones longer, but common to all
was a longer, narrower chamber and smaller bore, supposedly moving in the
direction of the German blank.
Wells died about 3 years ago and the Saxophone Shop disposed of this
equipment and remaining inventory. I have this for an address if you would
like to contact his widow if she is still alive and living there, for more
information: 14514 Wallace, Riverdale, Ill, 849-2015. Doug P.

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