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Can you identify my bass clarinet?

Author: clarimad
Date: 2015-01-06 13:29
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This is a wooden bass to Eb but without a makers marque so I have added a few photos, one of it in the case and others, one with a serial number only. Can anyone suggest a maker?

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Re: Can you identify my bass clarinet?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-01-06 15:42

That looks very much like a Malerne bass - they were made with as many different company names as you can think of. Buffet Evette basses and some Conn basses were made by Malerne to name two companies whose logo was stencilled onto them.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Can you identify my bass clarinet?

Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2015-01-06 19:19

I don't believe this one is a Malerne product, it doesn't have the usual Malerne identifiers (register mechanism design, 'rounded-off rectangular' r.h. trill keys, doubled low F/C toneholes, etc. I've seen several non-Malerne French-made bass clarinets with the same or similar design as this one, under various names, "M. Lacroix" comes to mind for example. All that said, I don't have the answer.

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Re: Can you identify my bass clarinet?

Author: clarimad
Date: 2015-01-08 16:12

Thanks for the suggestions however, how remiss of me, I have never noticed the case too much which has Leblanc on each of the four swivel catches! Also upon clearer inspection, when oiling the wood exterior of the instrument, I could just about make out some letters where the inscription should be and these look like EANCARTE. The serial number 2104 is clear and when I looked at the Leblanc serial number list this says it is 1972 though the list is for Leblanc 340s and also has various other models and I'm not aware exactly which model this clarinet is.

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Re: Can you identify my bass clarinet?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-01-08 16:51

This isn't a Leblanc bass as Leblancs have very distinctive and modern looking keywork unlike that of the other French makers around at the time.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Can you identify my bass clarinet?

Author: clarimad
Date: 2015-01-08 17:06

Chris,

Mystery over - it's a Jean Cartier which I have now read is likely to be a stencil. Do we know who made the clarinets for this company. When was Cartier distributing instruments? Any more information would be hugely appreciated.

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Re: Can you identify my bass clarinet?

Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2015-01-08 21:44

I believe Thibouville Freres made the Jean Cartier soprano clarinets (which are decent instruments); perhaps they made the bass clarinet as well.

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