 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2006-04-29 00:08
Well, a very nice surprise was awaiting me when I got home today-
My mother found a Selmer Paris Brevete clarinet, serial K20xx, at a garage sale for $10. She doesn't know much about clarinets, but she does know that I have a Selmer Paris clarinet, and how much I love it (my 9*), and she bought it.
I've been able to find out that the clarinet is somewhere between about 1920-1931. Can anyone pinpoint the production date more accurately for the K20xx serial #? There are no cracks that I can see in it, and the wood still looks nice. It appears to be Albert system (it has the rollers on the pinky keys, only two pinkey keys on the left hand, and is also lacking a key for the left hand thumb and also for the right hand pointer, again, correct me if I'm wrong).
But what I really want to know- the clarinet is very (and when I say VERY, i mean VERY) tarnished, I found the odd pad laying in the bottom of the case, and all of the pads need to be replaced.
So basically I am assuming that this clarinet needs the following-
- intense cleaning of keywork
-repadding
-wood cleaning
-and, it is still in the original case (which is kind of gross), so a new case to boot
I would appreciate any information, such as- is it worth spending a few hundered to get it up to playing condition? The notes I can get out on it sound very nice, and I rather like the tone. Also, what would this clarinet, if I had it overhauled, be worth?
I've never dealt with overhauling a clarinet before, so any advice that you all have to me would be welcome!
Thanks!
BCG
Post Edited (2006-04-29 00:37)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-04-30 01:24
BCG -
I think the first thing to check is whether it's at high or low pitch. Look for "H.P." or "L.P." stamped somewhere. If you can't find anything, put it together if you can get the joints to fit. Otherwise lay it out on a table with the parts in the same position as they would be if it were put together. Lay your 9* next to it. If the old instrument is at low pitch, it will be the same length as your 9*. If it's at high pitch, the old instrument will be at least 1/2 inch shorter.
If the instrument is at high pitch, it will be almost 1/4 step sharp and it won't be usable with other instruments.
If it's at low pitch, the question is whether you want to learn to play a different fingering system. If you play New Orleans jazz, it would be ideal.
The instrument undoubtedly has a large bore, for which you may need a different mouthpiece. It will be very different from your 9*, which has a small bore.
Good luck. If you decide to have the instrument restored, let us know how it comes out.
Ken Shaw
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2006-04-30 01:38
Ken- Thanks for the High Pitch/Low Pitch advice. I wouldn't have thought of that. It is definately low pitch- I can actually get a few notes out of it, and it sounds quite nice. I also can put my own mouthpiece on it- I have a Hite Premier mouthpiece that fits the clarinet, and it plays fairly in tune (the notes I could get out decently). It did come with a Selmer mouthpiece with CC stamped on the table- any info on this?
BCG
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2006-04-30 18:26
From your description, this sounds like a "Holiday Inn Selmer" Albert System clarinet, used by many of the early New Orleans clarinetists including Johnny Dodds. This instrument is worth many times the $10 your mother paid even unrestored as it tends to be a highly collectable item. There is information on the Internet (including on this Board) about this instrument. Whether or not choose to you get it restored, you probably do want to get it appraised, or at least look for the prices similar instruments have sold for.
George
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-04-30 20:58
If the facing is stamped on the table of a Selmer mouthpiece, it's fairly old. If it's enclosed by an oval, it's from the 1950s or 60s. If the word "Table" is also stamped, it's older. The oldest (and most in demand) have a Selmer logo inset into the rubber on the top just above the tenon.
I don't think Selmer made a CC model. They did make a C, which is medium length and medium tip, and a C*, which is medium length and slightly more open. Scrub the stamping on your mouthpiece with an old damp toothbrush to get the crud out, and you'll probably see that it's C*.
The older Selmer mouthpieces were made of good rubber are in demand for refacing. You got a good bargain on both the instrument and the mouthpiece. They have a good though not high value -- perhaps around $100 for the clarinet and $50-100 for the mouthpiece depending on age and condition.
Ken Shaw
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