Klarinet Archive - Posting 000391.txt from 1995/03

From: Donald Oehler <dloehler@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: where to get info on old clarinet?
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 1995 20:30:37 -0500

Dear Doug;
Your clarinet maker doesn't seem to be in Langwill,s Index - not a
good sign, I might add. There seem to be a zillion "old" French
clarinets in shops and most of them are in great need of work. Can you
discribe it in more detail? How many keys, what color is the wood and
how long is it? When it comes to "old" clarinets you can begin to
break them down into old horns, i.e. black beat up padless wonders or
OLD horns of boxwood and few keys. There is some overlap, though, so
let me know more about it. If it's really old don't do anything to it
right away. Many have unfortunately tried to "bring back" some real
antiques to restored playing condition and end up with a horn that
will be of no use for playing and will have lost it's collectors
value in the process. Good luck.
Yours,
Don Oehler

On Mon, 13 Mar 1995, Doug Cook wrote:

> Hi, folks,
> I just picked up an old clarinet in an antique shop. I suspect
> it isn't worth much (but it was cheap anyway). I picked it up mainly out
> of curiosity and because I love clarinet (don't play -- yet! -- but
> I play several other instruments). I'm interested in getting
> information on it. (Yes, yes, I know, fingerings have changed, so
> it may not even be playable by most people).
> The maker is Jean Marbeau, Paris.
> Does anyone know anything about this maker? Can anyone suggest
> a local shop where I could have someone take a look at it? I assume it
> would at least need an overhaul if it's worth investing in.
> Your help & expertise are much appreciated.
>
> -Doug
>
> Doug Cook, cook@-----.
>
> "Yet mark his perfect self-contentment, and hence learn this lesson, that to
> be self-contented is to be vile and ignorant, and that to aspire is better
> than to be blindly and impotently happy." -Edwin A. Abbott, _Flatland_
>