Klarinet Archive - Posting 000037.txt from 2008/03
From: X-BakerBotts-MailScanner-tom.henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] German system clarinet
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:00:30 -0500
Hi Peter,
I can probably provide a little information about the clarinet. The "B"
stamped into the upper body above the "F G Uebel" indicates that the
clarinet is in the key of Bb. Germans simply stamp a "B" to indicate
this.
The manufacturer was F. G. Uebel from the famous woodwind making town of
Markneukirchen. This city is very famous for the many woodwind makers
that have existed there for about 150 years. The city is located in the
area that used to be Bohemia near the Czech border. After WWII it was
part of East Germany. Amazingly, many of the famous makers still are
there today. Below is a link that list many of the makers of German
clarinets, and you will see quite a few of them are still from
Markneukirchen.
I don't think F.G. Uebel is still in business, but F.A. Uebel (most
likely a relative) is and is very respected for their clarinets. They
are well known for their Basset Horns as well. Some other famous makers
from Markneukirchen are Gebruder Moennig, Oscar Adler, and Clemens
Wurlitzer (not the famous Herbert Wurlitzer, but a relative) to name a
few. Another town nearby that is also well known for instrument
manufacturing is Wurnitzgruen.
I have seen a picture of the type of clarinet that you describe and I am
guessing, based upon the time it was used and made that it may be a
Muller system clarinet which was common at that time. Albert system was
also used.
The currently used German Oehler system clarinet is based upon the
Muller system as modified and updated by Oscar Oehler. All professional
German system clarinets today are of the Oehler system keywork. When
compared to a French Boehm system clarinet, they have more keys and are
more complex to make, thus the generally higher price. Sabine Meyer is a
well known player of Wurlitzer German system clarinets along with Karl
Leister.=20
Traditionally, leather pads were used, but today many of the modern
German system makers now use silicon or gore-tex type pads as well as
the option for leather. Cork pads are little used, if at all, on German
system clarinets. I'm sure some may use them, but it would be rare. If
you are interested in restoring the clarinet I would have leather pads
installed so that you get an idea of how it originally sounded. If you
search the Internet I am also sure you could find a fingering chart that
would be a good place to start. Here is a link for a fingering chart for
the Oehler system for reference. Not sure how close it will be to yours.
http://www.klarinette24.de/grifftabelle.html
Below is a very good listing of the current and known makers of German
system clarinets. The other link is to the instrument museum in
Markneukirchen. Click on the link to select the English option, although
much more information can be seen in the German language. If you ever
travel to this part of Germany, I would highly recommend visiting this
museum and/or stopping by to take a look at modern day manufacturing of
hand made clarinets.
http://www.cs.ru.nl/~bolke/DuitseKlar/oehlerlistOld.html
http://www.museum-markneukirchen.de/
I hope this helps fill in some of the blanks.
Tom Henson
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Gentry [mailto:peter.gentry@-----.uk]=20
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 1:27 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: [kl] German system clarinet
I have acquired an old German system clarinet from my father in law's
effects. He "liberated" this piece during WW2 but no-one knows just
where.
It has a holster rather than a case which can be attached to a belt.
The rather indistinct makers markings are
B
F G UEBEL
Wohlhausen
Markneukirchen
But it also has some other markings :
Hess
Landespolizai
1934
The mouthpiece looks as though the reeds may have been bound rather than
using a ligature.
The wood is rather dry but there are no cracks and the keys are all
present and correct with no bends or marks.=20
One of two pads have come unstuck and one spring is missing.
Surprisingly it does "play".=20
Is this instrument worth an overhaul?
regards
Peter Gentry=20
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.=20
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.6/1317 - Release Date:
07/03/2008 08:15
=20
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