Klarinet Archive - Posting 000532.txt from 2003/10

From: "Buckman, Nancy" <nebuckman@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] to the Buffet Mafia
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 13:58:39 -0400

Anyone here ever played a Conn clarinet?

Ken

As I recall, when I first started working with Steve Fowler in his shop =
(1978?), he had a crate full of old clarinets lying in the rear of the =
shop. He told me to go pick one out and learn to take it apart and put =
it together again. The one I picked was an old, moldy, green hard =
rubber Conn. I took it apart, scraped all the pads out, yanked the =
broken and/or badly rusted springs, gave it a bath in warm water (which =
I found made it all the greener!) and *LUX* liquid detergent, and then =
dried it well. Then he buffed it up on the buffing wheel to get rid of =
all that glorious green (and promptly warned me not to use warm water on =
hard rubber - ever!). Then I ran a lightly oiled pipe cleaner through =
the tubes, lightly oiled the rods and screws, replaced the yanked =
springs, replaced the pads and then he showed me how to level and seat =
the pads. When I was all finished, he rented it to some kid and I never =
saw it again. It played pretty well, I guess, because it got rented =
right away and didn't come back with any problems. If Steve were to =
check out that pile of old clarinets in his shop now, he would probably =
come up with something that says Conn on it.....a bell or barrel or =
maybe even a joint or two. He was a good teacher, and yes, Conn =
clarinets can still be found and do still serve a purpose!

Nancy

Nancy E. Buckman, CPO, AFO, Technical Assistant
School of Health Professions, Wellness and Physical Education
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, MD 21012-1895 USA
Phone 410-777-2316 Fax 410-777-2233
E-mail nebuckman@-----.edu

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