 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Debelli
Date: 2003-12-08 12:17
I'm stumped! I have an old clarinet that I'm unable to find any information at all about-not on the web or anywhere else I've looked.
It's a wooden clarinet made by HENRI DELAVILLE in Paris, France. The only other marking is Fonde en 1867. The case it is in is almost a cone shape, not the typical square box case you usually see.
Any ideas where to find information about this clarinet?
THANKS!
Debbie
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-12-08 23:09
Debbie, I can't find anything on the Delaville (as you already did it, I did not check the web).
If your case is a sort of rectangular truncated cone and the top and bottom parts of the instrument slip straight in, rather than lying down, that style was not uncommon prior to about 1920 (best date I can come up with... maybe someone else can zero in a bit better).
Good luck on finding information.
Regards,
John
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Author: Debelli
Date: 2003-12-09 17:10
Thanks for the replys. If one can't find any information about the manufacturer or value, how do you determine how much to sell it for if you wanted to in the future?
John, thanks for a better idea of the age by the case it's in. I think what you described is what I have. Half the clarinet goes in one side, the other half on the other side, one up, other down.
Debbie
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-12-09 18:17
Debbie, that sounds like it. France had a slew of Clarinet makers in early years of the 20th century. Most of them made Clarinets that were nothing special at all, especially those not widely known.
Is your Clarinet a Boehm system instrument? Does it play well, with good intonation and easy blowing? Do none of the notes sound stuffy? With a proper mouthpiece and reed, does it have a nice tone? Are the tenon rings snug, indicating that the wood is not dried out? Are the corks and pads in decent, functional condition? If answers to all are yes, it's "playable" and might bring 50 to 75 bux. Probably not more, because it doesn't have a recognizable name.
If it is not a Boehm instrument, you might get more for it through eBay rather than locally, unless you're lucky enough to find someone in your area who wants it.
And those cases are awful, because the barrel and bell don't get removed. Thus they can become stuck. If you're going to keep it, find a serviceable case of the flat variety, but do hang on to the old one in case some purist wants it.
Regards,
John
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