 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris DeLellis
Date: 2001-11-06 00:46
(I miss posted this in the Klezmorim Forum -sorry)
I have exhaustively searched the current and archived boards to find what I thought would be a simple explanation to my Selmer P series (P3852) soprano's identification, but no luck. On the tuning barrel there is only a "B" center stamped below the Henri Selmer Paris logo. Does this mean it is a Balanced Tone?
I have to say that in my search through this board for this info I have gotten a tremendous education. Especially the E&S, Evette, Buffet threads since I also have one of the head-scratching Evette & Schaeffer K's (K18347) non-master model, with the Ched faced/non-(re)faced mp .
Thanks to all contributors, we "lurkers" appreciate your shared knowledge.
Chris
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Author: Rob
Date: 2001-11-06 02:48
The "B" appeared on the barrel of some of the older Series 10 models. It also appeared on the bell sometimes, below the Selmer logo and the Series 10 imprint. However, the serial number of P3852 that you mentioned in your post was issued sometime in the early 50s, which I think was before the introduction of the Series 10 (though I could be mistaken - It's just that I've never seen or heard of one that old). Is it possible that your barrel is not original? I don't know if the "B" was ever used on Selmer barrels at any other time, but I have not seen it done on any of the other Selmers I have owned. I have only seen it on the Series 10. I'll be interested to see if anyone else knows anything more about this. The "B" imprint appeared on the barrel and bell of two of the Bb Series 10s I have owned. Also I have seen this only on Series 10 models and never on a Series 10G model, which was introduced later than the Series 10.
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2001-11-06 04:23
The "B" is an indication that the barrel is for a Bb clarinet and would have been marked on a Selmer replacement barrel, not original equipment.
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Author: Mark M
Date: 2001-11-06 05:32
Douglas,
Not sure I agree with that. I have three series 10' all original equip. and all have a "B" on the barrel. My Selmer "A" from 1929 does not have a "B".
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-06 13:37
Hey Mark,
Just curious:
One: Since it's three of them chances are it is so, but do you know for sure the barrels of the series 10s you have are actually original equipment barrels marked with the "B"?
Do you know the dates of manufacture of your series 10s?
Two: If the "B" was only stamped on replacement Bb clarinet barrels, wouldn't it be missing from an "A" clarinet barrel anyway?
Unless someone on the BB knows for sure, I'm wondering if this wouldn't be a question best asked of Selmer. I would certainly be curious what their answer might be.
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Author: Chris DeLellis
Date: 2001-11-06 19:18
For added info, the "B" is stamped only on the barrel not on the bell of my Selmer. The clarinet serial number indicactes that it was made in 1952. It has no markings indicating that it is a series 10 unless I'm not looking in the right place(s). And, I'm still unclear if it may be a BT or CT.
Thanks for help. How or whom would I ask at Selmer for this info?
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Author: Chris DeLellis
Date: 2001-11-06 19:43
Thanks Peter,
Spoke with the folks there and they will try to pull the original sales "card", find the model specs and give me a call back in a few days. BTW, the gentleman I spoke with couldn't exactly explain the "B" stamp either.
I'l be reporting back....
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2001-11-06 20:40
Just as a side bit of info, there is a Selmer 67mm barrel on eBay right now that also has the "B" marked on it: eBay #1481334025. Perhaps the seller could add information about the barrel.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-06 22:54
Stay on top of it, because sometimes they put things aside if you don't bug them every few days. They have been very helpful to me in the past, though.
I'll be curious to know the answer to the questions, as much as they can or will tell you.
Good luck with your inquiry, and don't give up on this thread for a few days either.
Sometimes it takes a couple of days, or so, for some people to catch up with a thread and answer something. But they will do that often enough. Just when you think nobody else will put in their two cents, somebody does!!
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Author: Rob
Date: 2001-11-07 01:16
I still have (somewhere) one of the Series 10s I have owned with the "B" on the barrel and the bell. The Serial number is U8149, as best as I can read it from my insurance records, it's a bit worn, which would mean it was manufactured in 1966 according to the serial number lists here on Sneezy. I suspect that the barrel is original equipment on the Series 10 since the "B" on the barrel is in the same script as the "B" on the bell and the bell carries the series 10 logo as well.
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Author: Chris DeLellis
Date: 2001-11-07 01:52
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1481334025
Referring to Doug's catch on ebay, the font, or rather the typeface, used for the "B" for that barrel is quite different than the one on my barrel. Could be the age difference, could be that mine really is a replacement barrel and the one that appears on the later series 10's come as standard that way. Hopefully the folks at Selmer will come through with the answer....
BTW, I emailed the ebay seller, but have not heard back from him yet.
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Author: Mark M
Date: 2001-11-08 05:31
Peter,
Sorry for the late reply. I'm fairlly certain that my barrels are original. My two Bb horns are made in 1968 and 69 both with the"B" on the barrels and on the bells. My comment concerning the A horn was one of the thought that perhaps the "A" should have an "A" stamped on the barrel since they are supposedly different barrels. I have talked at lengths with Selmer and they really don't come up with any real useful info. I did manage to get through to someone in the shop who did tell me that both the A and the Bb used the same barrel which is what I'm doing now and it seems to work. If you talk to Selmer, my advice is to try and get past the customer service people and talk to someone in the shop. They are much more knowlegable.
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Author: Mark M
Date: 2001-11-08 05:58
Forgot to mention. There is currently a series 10 on e-bay that shows the "B" on the barrel and the bell. # 1481853036
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-11-08 14:51
I have 4 Selmers, a 20's F B, a 30's F B, and 2 P series 17/6's, with altogether about 6 barrels. Only the ?20's barrel? has a B on it, below an LP, but it may not be a Selmer, no logo !, and I am not the original owner. It plays the best IMHO on this horn and "feels" to be the exact diameter of the UJ. I have this B marking on several Albert/Mueller barrels and have always believed that Bb pitch is indicated. I recall seeing A's on A cl barrels, but dont have one. Don
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Author: Chris DeLellis
Date: 2001-11-08 19:31
I have partial closure...
A Selmer rep gave me a call back and informed me that I have a model B15, standing for a Bb with 15 keys. And though he put me on hold to try to find someone with the answer, he could not explain the "B" stamped on the barrel. He did mention that he did not believe it indicated a replacement barrel.
Thanks to all, sorry I couldn't get a definitive answer on the "B", but it was an interesting journey.
Chris
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