The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jim Ham
Date: 2001-07-15 19:11
I have recently purchased a wood clarinet, made in France, with the serial number A8771, and the logo GALAXY HOLTON USA in the shape of a fat arrow pointing down (Galaxy written vertically in the arrow shaft and Holton written horizontally in the arrow head with USA under the Holton). I have contacted the LeBlanc company in Kenosha Wisconsin and they do not have a record of the serial number. They think the instrument is 35 - 40 years old. Does anyone out there have any more detailed information? Thanks.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-07-15 19:36
Well Leblanc bought out Holton in 1964 so it is my guess that although they kept the name for producing a line of brass instruments, they discontinued it for clarinets. Even if Holton had records (and many makers did not keep serial number records anyway), they would most likely have been disposed of at the time of the takeover. Does the clarinet say made in France or just the mouthpiece? I thought Holtons were US made but could be wrong.
Based on the information at the following site (http://www.musictrader.com/holton.html), Holton started making woodwinds in about 1918 when they relocated from Chicago, IL to Elkhorn, WI. I think the serial number list at the site is only for brass instruments though as your serial number would otherwise put this clarinet at a point in time before they started making woodwinds. It is also likely that each model was separately serial numbered anyway so you would not be able to compare it to other Holtons unless it was the same model.
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