 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2008-12-29 21:39
I recently rediscovered a little stash of reeds I bought many years ago. The oldest box there was dated 4 April 1968 (I'm the sort of nerd who always dates his reed purchases) Vandoren Moyenne (medium) in that old style cardboard box of 10. I actually remembered buying this box in Place de la Madelaine, Paris, it was my first ever trip to Paris, and it was April, so you don't forget those things.
Anyway a few days back I slit the seal and opened the box and yes there were 10 reeds inside still looking remarkably fresh if perhaps a little darker toned than a 2008 reed.
Have soaked and clamped 4 of these for a few days and sarted breaking them in. The results aren't at all bad, with a little titivation all 4 seem to work and 2 seem even promising.
Has anyone else found virgin boxes of reeds anywhere near this age, and if so how did they turn out?
I have a few more boxes from the early 70's to try sometime, by this time Vandoren had packed them, still in 10's but in plastic boxes.
Interestingly the 1968 reeds are not "file cut" as today but cut straight into the bark and have no strengths marked on the reed itself.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-12-29 22:23
Yes, maybe, and they're always dark.....Ricos
Bob Draznik
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Author: William
Date: 2008-12-30 16:52
I've still got a couple of vintage (1962ish) boxes of VD's that I plan to open someday. They are 2.5-3s in the cardboard container of ten. That was the strength that we all used back then in music school--along with Kaspar 11 & 14s and Ithica Bays mpcies on our R13s. Ah yes......"Those were the Days".
(Morree's were hard to get here in the USA mid-west)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-12-30 17:57
In the late '90s I bought a P-series Centered Tone (P51xx) from its original owner who was mainly a sax player (but used to take this clarinet when going on trips to keep his chops in shape), in its original Selmer London case (like the old B&H single cases but in burgundy instead of black) with most of the original accessories that came with it including the cardboard box of Vandoren medium reeds from the same era.
That puts the date at 1953 - I finally gave in and sold it to a player who was badgering me to sell it to him (and the reeds went with it). Now I've no idea where it could be.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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