Klarinet Archive - Posting 000607.txt from 2004/01

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Selmer clarinet
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 08:19:09 -0500

At 05:00 AM 1/19/2004 +0000, Nick Shackleton wrote:
>Bill Hausmann wrote "Apparently some of the early Selmers had the "K" in
>the serial number and
>some did not. The K's, naturally, precede the "L"-series, though, placing
>them before 1931. K999 should fall between 1927 (start of production) and
>1929. It probably has the older, oval shaped Selmer logo, too, I'd
>imagine."
>I don't know why this myth that production started in 1927 is in
>circulation. I have an "ALEXANDER SELMER Importer and Distributing Agent"
>catalogue that dates from about 1910 and includes testimonials saying how
>good Selmer clarinets are going back to 1899. The catalogue says they were
>awarded the Gold Medal at the St Louis World's Fair in 1904. It is
>possible that the earliest instruments did not have serial numbers but I
>do not believe I have seen one without.
>I have never seen any letter below K so I assume that this was when they
>started with the letters.
>I seem to remember being told that the oval shaped logo was replaced
>around 1924 (my 1910 catalogue shows this logo).
>Alexander Selmer became principal clarinettist of the Boston Symphony
>Orchestra in 1898 and I believe that this is how Henri Selmer (his
>brother) got into the US market.

I stand corrected. I should have checked my other sources before I stuck
my keyboard in my mouth. Henri first gained fame for reedmaking, and later
mouthpiece making, establishing Henri Selmer & Cie. in 1885. By 1890 he
was repairing, adjusting, and modifying clarinets and ultimately began to
manufacture his own. His brother Alexandre came to the US in 1895 and
played in several major orchestras -- Boston, Cincinnati, and the New York
Philharmonic. Around 1900 he opened an instrument retail store in New
York, which in 1904 became H & A Selmer. Alexandre left the US in 1918,
leaving distribution rights for Selmer Paris instruments, as well as the
US-made instrument business, to one of his pupils, George M. Bundy.

I suppose the biggest reason people jump to the 1927 conclusion is that the
serial number lists only go back that far.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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