 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2003-01-15 23:13
I exchanged a series of e-mails today with an American eBay seller who was offering a Boosey & Hawkes "Imperial" clarinet, "Symphony model" (his description). This auction had no pictures, but I have seen photos of a clarinet that was a B&H 1010 containing both the labels "Imperial" and "Symphony." I own a 1980 B&H "Symphony" 1010 without the label "Imperial." Just curious when the "Imperial" stopped being made, or when the 1010 dropped the "Imperial" label. This seller's instrument was made around 1955.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-01-16 06:06
It can be tough with these clarinets sometimes as there is some inconsistency. If it is an Imperial it will have the number 925 or 926 instead of 1010. I have never seen an Imperial with the inscription Symphony as the Imperial was made primarily for military band use. I am in Australia where Boosey and Hawkes were the major supplier of clarinets up until the middle of the 1970's. Boosey's are known however for making different instruments for national markets so instruments sent to the USA may be differently marked. The Imperial model is the standard class A instrument both wind and brass with the class B's being Edgeware and Regent in winds and Regent Westminster in brass. They also used the brand name Oxford. The 1010 and the Barret Action clarinets were a grade more expensive than the standard class A, or in other words a premium model featuring a variety of tenon rings and inner sleeving. There is a possibility that an Imperial model was made with orchestral or symphonic specs, bore size etc., but with Imperial standard keywork. The other possibilty is that for the American market the name Imperial was used on 1010's. Edgeware and Regent were both made of ebonite or wood and are about as bad as one another. Imperial's were good instruments, we were issued them in the army Bb, Eb and bass and they stood up to some rough treatment.
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Author: graham
Date: 2003-01-16 08:46
In the 1950s 1010s were stamped both Imperial and Symphony. What you have is a 1010, not a special edition. 1950s 1010s can play different to those from 1930s or 1960s - 1980s. My 1010 was made in 1955 also and is the best 1010 I have played.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2003-01-16 08:54
....or should I have written it "defence"? Anyway, I've renovated probably seven or eight Edgware clarinets in both wood and ebonite (hard-rubber) versions, and I consider the basic instrument (bore, tonehole locations and sizes) to be actually quite good, although the ergonomics (key shapes and spacings) and sometimes the quality of plating are generally pretty awful, granted. After certain modifications to the keywork are made (e.g. narrowing of the sliver keys, narrowing and bending of the throat "A" key to the right to get it away from interfering with the l.h. index finger, etc.), and a very slight bit of tonehole chamfering and undercutting are done, the Edgwares have turned out (at least in my experience) to play quite well, with really nice sound and intonation that's at least tolerable if not downright decent. Some of the Edgwares I've worked on, including my latest (a 1975 vintage hard-rubber model) actually play as well as the two Symphony 1010 models I've overhauled in the last couple of years. I wouldn't necessarily say the Edgwares can be turned into silk purses, but they need not remain sow's ears as they left the factory!
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-01-16 12:30
Boosey is supporting a discussion group that may be able to clear the air of misconceptions.
I thought the 1010 models were dramatically larger bore designs than the 926. It was my impression that the 926 design was intended to accomodate the more International ear of the orchestral player and keep some eroding market share.
Isn't there an Imperial set for sale in the Woodwind classifieds?
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Author: Keith Ferguson
Date: 2003-01-16 14:23
In the Woodwind section of the forum on the B&H website, there is an indication that the name change occurred when the Acton vent (a vented F# mechanism) was added to the 1010, which is stated to have occurred in October, 1970. After that time, apparently the name "Imperial" was reserved for the smaller bore 926. The 926 bore size is apparently 0.593 inch as opposed to 0.6 inch for the 1010. This answer confuses me somewhat because the same section of the forum indicates that the synthetic 926s, under the name "Imperial" were in use much earlier than 1970.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2003-01-16 17:56
In line with Keith's last sentence directly above, I overhauled a hard-rubber Imperial 926 about 4-5 months ago which, if I remember correctly, was pre-1970. Very nice clarinet, by the way.
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Author: graham
Date: 2003-01-17 12:35
926s have always been called Imperials. 1010s shared that designation for a while, whilst never dropping Symphony entirely. The Acton vent is a 1960s development, I believe.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2003-01-17 13:09
Shucks, I could have had a 1955 1010! Oh well. I repeatedly asked the seller to look for the numbers "926" or "1010" on the clarinet body, and he indicated resolutely that there were no numerical indications on the clarinet but the serial number. So I passed on it. I'm stuck with my 1980 1010, which I am learning to enjoy more and more.
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