Klarinet Archive - Posting 000820.txt from 2000/03

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Manufacturer E. Lerue?
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2000 07:17:20 -0500

Anybody ever heard of manufacturer E. Lerue? I can't find anything about
this name in the klarinet list archives. The clarinet, made of nice wood,
probably in A (to judge from the length -- it's in unplayable condition now),
is marked "E. Lerue" on the bell and the barrel. There's no other
information on the instrument except for the serial number, 388xx. The logo
is block capital lettering, inside a rectangular box outline with a simple
floral embellishment, with no indication of place of origin. The brass keys
(ordinary modern Boehm system) appear to be forged, plated with nickel
silver. The keys are comparatively large and broad. I don't recognize the
contours of the tenon rings.

The clarinet came with a white plastic reed marked, "McLean #1," slime-glued
to a two-screw, nickel-plated ligature and a poor quality, anonymous plastic
mouthpiece with an extremely open tip. I'm curious about the reed, too, if
anybody knows anything about McLean reeds or if the presence of such a reed
would help to date the clarinet. The case (unmarked; don't know if it's the
orginal) looks as though it dates from anywhere between about 1945 and 1960.
It's in the contoured style of a Buffet case on the outside, though the
inside is set up differently than Buffet cases. The case has brass hardware,
with brown, mock-alligator plastic on the outside and a lining of maroon
velvet, mildew and dead bugs. The dealer threw in the stench for free. I
think this dealer is a post-auction dumpster-diver and that this and several
other instruments, all in poor-to-wrecked condition, ended up in his flea
market booth after failing to sell at a school surplus auction.

I'm learning to do routine repair work. This dirty puppy needs pads and
corks. May I assume that an E. Lerue isn't worth much and that I won't be
committing some dreadful desecration if I overhaul it myself?

Thanks--
Lelia

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