 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: leo
Date: 2002-03-04 00:07
this weekend i saw a b flat 6 key clarinet at a local tag sale. they were asking $50. it was in very bad shape with major cracks in the bell and upper section (the part that the mouthpiece fits into). i did not buy it. how rare is this type of instrument? is it very difficult or expensive to restore it as a "period" piece.
leo
lc550@columbia.edu
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-03-04 07:23
Hi, Leo -
Here's feedback opinion number one:
They're moderately rare, or very rare, depending on the maker. Some of them are in such bad shape, from age and abuse, they're not really worth the time it would take to restore them. Cleaned up, they make nice conversation/display pieces.
:]
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-03-04 08:30
Might be nice to hear one played! Buy it and get somebody to restore it. Lets hear what a clarinet really should sound like! Maybe $20 though.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-03-04 18:22
With major cracks in bell and upper section you're going to have considerable time invested, a good bit more than $20(US) worth, before it's playable. THEN you find out if it's any good. There are old (simple) clarinets around that won't take that much work to fix up. They sound okay but a lot of them aren't standard pitch.
I know, Mark, you meant 20 for the horn But that's just for starters. You know perfectly well that if you had one you'd feel compelled to restore it. Oh, well. Who knows what extremes a hobbyist will go to? They all talk tough at first -- hahaha!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-03-04 21:22
Leo - If your local library [or a friend] has a copy of "Clarinet" by Jack Brymer, it has several photos of 6 keyed cls , with ivory rings, dating in the early 1800's, for comparison. These are quite collector items, few if any might turn out to be at all playable ,even restored, but many of us would jump at the chance to have one for display, especially for only $50. Luck, Don
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Author: leo
Date: 2002-03-05 00:19
hi guys:
i went back today and they took my offer. i now own the clarinet. now i am compelled to restore it back to original in every way possible. mark, i liked your comment where you said it would be nice to hear one played. that struck a note with me. (pun intended). don, i will go to the library to see if i can pick up a copy of brymer. this may be a fun project after all.
thank you all for the comments and encouragement (i needed it). without the push you gave me, i would have forgotten about it.
is anyone interested in how it turns out? keep in touch.
leo cirino
lc550@columbia.edu
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-03-05 15:05
Congrats, Leo, you may have a fairly valuable "project" instrument, even if it might be a reproduction, rather than an original. I have had several "fun" old horn experiences, educational as well. There are "groups" of very expert collector-restorers, whom I'm sure will give you assistance and encouragement, "EarlyClarinet@yahoogroups.com", also "Bass-Clarinet@yahoogroups.com", if your interests are there as well. They are different from our good BBoard in method of "conversation-advice" but well worth your investigation. Much luck, Don
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-03-05 19:11
Leo -
Clarinets with 5 and 6 keys were made well into the 19th century for band use in England.
The older (and more valuable) instruments have the keys (for example, the throat A and register key) mounted in a turning that makes a complete cylindrical band around the instrument. Later ones have the keys mounted in a "bump."
Earlier ones have flat brass keys and flat leather pads, though this continued in the English examples.
English barrels have a distinctive outside profile, swelling in the lower half.
Early barrels were drilled out to the size of the socket all the way through. The mouthpiece had a very long tenon that fit all the way down. If the barrel has normal sockets, the instrument is definitely not old.
Good luck restoring your find. Let us know how it comes out.
For more, you should join the Early Clarinet list. Al Rice, of the American Musical Instrument Society and one of the great experts on early clarinets, is there to answer questions.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: leo
Date: 2002-03-06 02:07
thank you don and ken for the information which i'm sure will be invaluable when i start restoring (if i do go ahead with it myself.) i've signed up for the yahoo site as well. the cracks seem like they can be "mended" with simple bonding and clamping. the siver plate seems to shine up very easily. i only tried cleaning the top of one key.
the overall appearance of the metal seems quite good. several of the springs are sluggish. this may be the result of buildup of dirt in the "joints". the metal and work seem to be late 19th century production. i'm guessing about 1890 simply from the appearance.
the clarinet is marked on barrel, upper section (joint), lower section, and bell with:
Bb
H P
it seems to have been applied with a hammer stamp. the mouthpiece is marked:
A. ROBERT SOLIST
PARIS
FRANCE
and is made with two types of material very well machined.
thanks to eoin's web site i was able to figure out that the 6th key is c sharp similar to key 7 on an albert system. more to come after i study the wood.
again, thanks everyone for the great information.
leo
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