 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: m1964
Date: 2022-12-20 11:41
Nice looking old instruments- I'd guess Eb, Bb and A.
Probably not practical to play them but nice to have as a piece of clarinet history.
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2022-12-20 12:32
based on its size compared to the others, the smallest clarinet looks to me like a C clarinet rather than an Eb.
All 3 are probably high pitched- try playing a long B natural on the middle one (ie concert A) and it will probably show around 452 HZ on a tuner app.
So, you'll have a very hard time finding any setting where you can play them with anyone else. Therefore value is not too much. But nice to have for the history behind them.
Maybe busking with MP3 backing tracks with altered pitch?
good luck
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Author: m1964
Date: 2022-12-24 07:44
If not going to play them, maybe it would be better to leave them in current condition.
Otherwise, any good clarinet tech should be able to work on them.
I still think that the short one is an Eb, considering it is quite shorter than the other too.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2022-12-24 16:47
I've read or heard somewhere that a brownish tint in the Grenadilla wood of clarinets is a sign that the wood has gotten very dry and should be oiled. I don't know if that's universally agreed on.
If it's true, then the instruments should get oiled. A good tech would know.
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2022-12-24 17:21
I think the small one must be a C clarinet then. Eb clarinets play 5 half steps higher than a Bb, so the lowest written E played on Eb clarinet is an A on the Bb clarinet. C clarinets play 2 half steps above Bb clarinets, so a low E on a C instrument would be the F# on the Bb.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2022-12-24 19:08
Verdi,
I'm in Emerald, Vic. I have a collection of B&H and other instruments and do my own repairs and restoration. I'd be glad to sort out your Emperor if you like.
Tony F.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2022-12-25 23:20
With a stamp that says endorsed by Mr Lazarus then I would put those around 1870. Henry Lazarus was the godfather of British clarinet playing and played Albert clarinets only trying Boehm instruments towards the very end of his life but never performing on them. Contemporary accounts of Lazarus’ tone are extremely complementary. It is said that Albert clarinets produced a big, full and rich woody tone.
As others have said they are clearly A, Bb and C.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Verdi
Date: 2022-12-26 05:53
Attachment: E82E4E67-7A23-48FB-8590-C452467C3151.jpeg (274k)
Thanks Peter. Both the C and A clarinets are marked “E Albert Brussels” and “S A Chappell on all parts, but only the C Clarinet is marked “Approved by Mr Lazarus” on the bell. Also the C is the only one with a serial number, 2300. I believe they are early Alberts as they lack the “patent C#” (double cup below the right pinky) but it’s hard to know if these were sill manufactured after the advent of the C#.
The Bb is a 12key (not 13) Muller system, marked Gautrot Aine, so I guess it is older. In its current conditions the Gautrot is the best player of the three, it produces a deep woody tone
Post Edited (2026-04-06 05:32)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2022-12-26 09:37
Hi Verdi,
If you click on my name at the top of this message you'll see my email address. Send me an email and we'll take it from there.
I think your price for an Emperor is a bit on the high side, they don't normally sell for that sort of price when you consider that they haven't been made since 1984 and that the Emperor was an intermediate-level instrument. I sold 2 last year in good playing condition for $225 each.
Tony F.
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