Klarinet Archive - Posting 000099.txt from 2000/05

From: Lars Kirmser <syrinx@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Metal clarinets
Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 06:15:34 -0400

>Before WW2, metal clarinets were mass produced by thr thousands to fill a
>huge growing market for tough, durable, low maintainance clarinets (schools
>mostly). Most of these were produced by more companies than you have fingers
>and toes to cash in on this market. Most of these companies spent more on
>advertising than on perfecting their product, so most were terrible sounding
>clunkers made worse by poor mouthpieces and inexperienced students playing
>them. There were some good sounding quality ones made, but the reputation
>was already hard set, and with the vast improvements in plastics during and
>just after the war, the better companies quit making them to save their
>reputations. Of the three I have restored, only one sounds decent.

Dear Listers,
It is my understanding that only 4 or 5 manufacturers actually made the
metal clarinets (Conn, Buescher, Selmer, Penzel-Mueller to name some I know
of for sure). The many brand names associated with metal clarinets were the
result of much "stenciling" on the part of these manufacturers for other
small companies. As to the reason for metal clarinets, it was (as I
understand history) an attempt at duplicating the same (extremely
successful) transition that the flute went through (from wood to metal)
only a few short years earlier. As to spending money on advertising vs.
research, I think that this speculation doesn't make sense, as the clarinet
design (form, function) had already been well established prior to making
them of metal. The tone hole placement, size and length was merely
duplicated with metal tubes. I believe Conn was the first to put these into
production in an attempt to get away from having to use a natural materials
(East African Blackwood) which was becoming increasingly harder and harder
to get as the war in Europe and Japan was getting momentum (shipping
problems, etc.) As to quality, Selmer made a very good double-walled metal
clarinets which stood up well against any wood bodied instrument of its
time. Today these instruments are very much valued as a collector's item.
Metal clarinets were only manufacturered prior to WWII as all the musical
instrument manufacturers were forced to shut down their instrument
manufacturering and retool for the war effort production (fabricating plane
pontoons, giro's for ships and planes, etc.) After WWII, they were required
to go through a period of re-establishing thier instrument manufacturing
facilities. I suppose that there were some metal clarinets sold after WWII,
but these were ones that were left over in old inventory. The only reason a
metal clarinet would be unacceptable today would be that it is "spent",
i.e. worn out or suffered the indignities of poor handling or repair over
the years. There are many "blind tests" on record indicating that it is not
possible to detect a metal clarinet from a wood bodied clarinet (all other
things being as equal as is possible). The material does not affect the
quality of sound. I have two metal clarinets which I have restored to
original condition and will often let players try them out to dispell this
misinformed impression that metal clarinets feel/sound different than wood
bodied instruments. I personally believe that we have not heard the last of
metal clarinets (we only have so much wood available!).

Best Regards, Lars Kirmser Editor/Publisher THE WOODWIND QUARTERLY

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