 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: NicM
Date: 2022-01-11 09:28
I've been looking for help dating/getting general information for my instrument.
I received it for my birthday from my mother who said she bought it from an antique shop. It looks quite old and the playing system isn't familiar to me. It has "Carl Fischer New York" stamped on the lower and upper joints. It has LP C stamped on the barrel and bell. It has "MADE IN FRANCE" marked and the serial number 83 on the bottom of the lower joint. I applied gold foil on identification sections to make them more visible. Both joints, the barrel, and the bell are all wooden.
I compared it to my standard Bb clarinet completely assembled and its quite a bit shorter. When the mouthpiece is on the smaller clarinet, it reaches the top of the barrel on my standard Bb from a side to side comparison. It seems to measure around 52 CM tall, without the mouthpiece on. The mouthpiece seems to be a Bb clarinet mouthpiece but I'm not sure if it is appropriate to be going on this instrument given that it is a whole lot smaller than the Bb clarinet. Any and all information about this instrument would be brilliant and helpful.
Nick M
:)
Post Edited (2022-01-11 10:39)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2022-01-11 09:39
Could you post some pics of the instrument? Is the key system Boehm or Albert? (If there is a cluster of 4 keys on the right side of the lower joint it will probably be Boehm). What is the length of the instrument with and/or without the mouthpiece fitted?
It sounds as though you have a low pitch C instrument.
Carl Fischer would have been the importer, not the maker. Pics might help in identifying the maker.
Tony F.
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Author: NicM
Date: 2022-01-11 10:00
Without the mouthpiece fitted it is about 52 CM and with it fitted, it is about 58 CM in length.
Post Edited (2022-01-11 10:39)
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Author: NicM
Date: 2022-01-11 10:00
Its not letting me post pictures, I'm not totally sure why. I can e-mail them to you though if that works.
Post Edited (2022-01-11 10:39)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2022-01-11 10:39
If you click on "Add Attachments" at the bottom of the text box and then click on the picture file in your computer it should work, otherwise click on my name and it will bring up my email.
Tony F.
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Author: NicM
Date: 2022-01-11 10:41
Yea, its not working here. I sent you an E-mail of the pictures I have.
Post Edited (2022-01-11 10:46)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2022-01-11 12:32
OK, I got the pics sorted out, I used my much more capable laptop and it all worked OK. You seem to have an Albert system low-pitch C clarinet. It probably dates from the 1930's but it could be earlier. Judging by the lack of rollers on the key spatulas it is a basic student model. These were sometimes used when children with small hands first took up the clarinet, but it does have a legitimate place in the clarinet heirarchy. It will enable you to play the melody line of any music written for a "C" instrument, such as guitar or piano. Yours has a crack in the upper joint. Whether or not the cost of repairing it can be justified is up to you. Albert system claris are rarely seen today, the Boehm system has become pretty much the standard. That being said, they do have their afficionados, mostly jazz players. I can't help you with the maker, but as a stencil it could have come from anywhere in France. Others more familiar with these may have ideas. Couesnon and Thibouville, both reputable makers, made stencils for anybody who could pay for them. If all else fails and it's not deemed worthy of restoration it would make an attractive lamp.
Tony F.
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