 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2010-05-13 12:02
I'm trying to find out the approximate age of an unusual plateau key "saxophone fingering" clarinet inscribed F.Buisson, Paris, Made in France and with the serial number 7495 on both upper and lower sections and LP and B on the bell. It looks identical to clarinet 5351 in the Nick Shackleton collection (p541) but is a fraction longer by about 10mm (maybe his was HP) and different maker badging. The date given for that model is c.1935.
I'll post photos if anyone is interested but any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Post Edited (2010-05-14 15:06)
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2010-05-14 15:15
Photo attached of clarinet still in case labelled John E. DALLAS & Sons Ltd. RIDGMOUNT ST. LONDON W.C.1.
Any ideas if it is Albert System, German System or other?
Sorry picture is over 1mb I'll post another smaller file.
Post Edited (2010-05-14 16:39)
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2010-05-14 16:39
Attachment: FBuisson Plateau.pdf (728k)
Photo attached of clarinet still in case labelled John E. DALLAS & Sons Ltd. RIDGMOUNT ST. LONDON W.C.1.
Any ideas if it is Albert System, German System or other?
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2010-05-15 02:21
F Buisson was a trade name used by Dallas & Sons for instruments made by Kohlert's Sons of Graslitz. Their 1932 catalog supposedly lists a "jazz Klarinette" with saxophone fingering - could this be what you have?........Kohlerts moved on to Winnenden after WW2 I believe and Dallas was in business in London until the 1950s I wasn't able to do0wnload the .pdf for some unknown reason - do you have a .jpg of this horn?
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2010-05-15 10:39
Attachment: FBuisson.jpg (64k)
Thanks for the information, Chris. JPG attached hopefully. This clarinet definitely says Made in France at the top of the upper section, but I'm interested in the trade name. Did Kohlert's also make clarinets in France?
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-05-15 11:45
It's an unusual, non-standard instrument, with German-style little finger keys (including the patent F#/C#) but Boehm-style keywork elsewhere. I think I see "L.P." stamped on the bell.
On the right hand, the finger holes are Boehm style, with the right index finger giving Bb/F rather than B/F# and the sliver key giving B/F#. (German-style instruments have a pad between the right index and middle finger holes.)
It's hard to tell what the fingering system is on the upper joint, but the linkage between the top and bottom joints makes me think Boehm. If it's "saxophone style" then F/C might be fingered with the left thumb and middle finger rather than just the thumb. I'd have to see the location of the hole for the next-to-bottom trill key to be sure.
It has no piercing in the left index finger key (as a bass clarinet does), so the altissimo could be problematic.
It looks nicely made. Is it playable?
Ken Shaw
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-05-15 14:49
In the early 1900s there were a number of "Crossover" clarinets (and other instruments) made.
This one is a Boehm with the pinky keys of a German clarinet.
I recall seeing a catalog that had the opposite of what you have- it was a German system in the index, middle, and ring fingers, but it had the alternate pinky keys like the standard Boehm.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2010-05-15 15:03
My bad - Buisson was the name for Kohlert horns but F.Buisson was used by Dallas as a name for horns made at La Couture (maker unnamed). As well as the pinky keys the upper stack side keys are also quite germanic looking
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2010-05-15 16:22
Thanks for the information Ken, the keywork looks quite good condition but the pads are falling off and the bridge link is bent so I'll get that done next week and keep you all posted. The bell is indeed inscribed LP B
I'll take a photo of the underside and post that later but I can say the thumb plateau key has no linkage to the upper keys unlike a regular Boehm. Also the throat G# key arches so high over the throat A that there is no evidence of any intended interaction.
Am I allowed to post the photo from the Shackleton Collection or will I be infringing copyright?
Thanks for all your help.
Malcolm (crazy collector & player of plateau key clarinets - 6 so far)
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2010-05-15 16:31
Attachment: Moser plateau.jpg (41k)
Just for comparison here is a German system plateau before overhaul - by F. Moser of Dusseldorf - anyone heard of this maker? Not nearly as nice condition as the F. Buisson but it plays quite well.
Post Edited (2010-05-15 16:33)
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-05-16 12:50
I just saw the link on the UJ that goes from the middle finger to the top pad under the A key.
I guess this really is a clarinet with saxophone key work- interesting.
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