Klarinet Archive - Posting 000113.txt from 2011/06

From: hns692@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Information on Martin Freres clarinet
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:47:15 -0400

Ahhhh . . . interesting! Comparing the figures: my parents purchased a =

Le Blanc Bb Noblet clarinet for me about that time; a step above a Normand=
y =

and a step below their orchestra horn at the time. The Noblet cost them =

$225 or $250. The horn was wonderful, played in tune and fit my small han=
ds =

well so I could play difficult passages easily. Had the Martin Freres =

horns been at least as good as the Le Blanc, I expect they would have been =

competition for them. The high line prices seem to be the same, but this =
is =

the first I've heard of them.
=

Lee Ann Hansen
=

=

In a message dated 6/13/2011 2:21:04 P.M. Central Daylight Time, =

lelialoban@-----.net writes:

Tom Bassett wrote,
>I have a friend who has a wooden Martin Freres
> Lamonte Paris clarinet (thats the stamp etched
>into the top joint) She thinks its from the 1960's
>but I don't really know if she bought it new or
>used (she got it in the 60's). Could someone tell
>me any information on this type of clarinet? I've
>never heard of this kind before.

Martin Fr=E8res clarinets turn up often in junktiques stores and flea =

markets. =

They generally cost around $50 and almost always less than $100 (except =

when =

the dealer is nuts ... oops, I mean optimistic). I have a 1957 Martin =

Fr=E8res woodwind catalogue avertising that the clarinets were made "near =

Paris, France." All of the soprano clarinets have 17 keys and 6 rings. =

All =

are advertised for student use except the "Philharmonic." All of the =

prices =

include "cases and accessories." (The catalogue doesn't specify the nature =

of the accessories.)

The two types of La Monte clarinet (available only in Bb) were the =

cheapest =

clarinets in that catalogue. A Grenatex "simulated wood finish" =

instrument =

cost $119.50. The La Monte in grenadilla wood was $125.00. Both had =

drop-forged, nickel-plated, nickel silver keys. Bear in mind that most =

instrument manufacturers demoted the names of old models over the years =

while selling "new and improved" models with new names. It's possible =

that =

La Montes made earlier than 1957 may not have been the company's =

lowest-priced models.

For comparison, in the same 1957 Martin Fr=E8res catalogue, Jean Martin =

clarinets (in Bb only) in Grenatex cost $130. Jean Martin clarinets in =

grenadilla cost $140. Jean Martin clarinets in "deluxe grenadilla" cost =

$150.

The catalogue suggested the Coudet (in Bb only) for advanced players. A =

Coudet clarinet in "Mozambique grenadilla" cost $160. The Coudet =

International Outfit in "finest selected Mozambique grenadilla wood" cost =

$175.

The Bb Deluxe model clarinet in "seasoned and selected Mozambique =

Grenadilla =

wood" cost $199.50 for either Bb or Eb soprano.

The Jean Martin, Deluxe and Coudet models all had drop-forged, =

nickel-plated, nickel silver keys, but the Martin Fr=E8res Concorde Bb =

clarinet in "seasoned and selected Mozambique Grenadilla wood" had rhodium =

plated nickel silver keys. It came with accessories and a more elaborate =

case than the other models, and cost $275.00. The advertisement =

recommends =

the Concorde for "the gifted young player" and suggests, "Your first-chair =

aspirants deserve to try it."

And finally there's the Martin Fr=E8res "Philharmonic" clarinet in Bb, whi=
ch =

the catalogue claims is "used by the professional." (Yeah, =

ri-i-i-i-ight.) =

The "Philharmonic" cost $300 and came with "seasoned and selected =

Mozambique =

Grenadilla wood," rhodium plated nickel silver keys, accessories and a =

large =

attach=E9-style case covered in plastic imitation alligator hide.

This catalogue also offers oboes and alto and bass clarinets, but no =

clarinets in A.

Lelia Loban
http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/Lelia_Loban =

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