 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: jim lande
Date: 2002-10-14 03:22
As Dee often reminds us, metal clarinets were made by the ton between 1925 and 1950 and most of these were student models. About 100 metal clarinets wash up on eBay each month.
Usually, between 5% and 10% are either professional quality instruments or, in my opinion, unusual enough to be collectible. See
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=70853&t=70853
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=37222&t=37222
This last month was an exception, with 29 auctions for 24 professional quality instruments and 6 other horns that I thought were collectible. (One auction was for two professional quality horns.) I may have missed some auctions, too. The total doesn't count relistings. Of course, "professional quality" does not mean that the instruments approach today's R13s, etc. It means that the instrument was top quality when new and that they sold for a hefty hunk of change -- $120 and up. That was several weeks pay for most folks. I did not include models such as Boston Wonder, Noblet, and Cleveland, which I think were 'intermediate' offerings.
The prices of collectibles often plunge in a serious recession. This has not happened (yet?) in the metal clarinet market. The average high price for the auctions that had bids was $445. 14 of the professional quality metal clarinets went for $300 or more. Nonetheless, 8 went for less than $200. These statistics are based on the following auctions.
auction Close Date Auction Title price
Description
905102959 Sep-08-02 CLARINET H. BETTONEY CR CO. BOSTON USA $76.00
Silva Bet; 3 piece, 7 ring, articulated C#/G#
Some plating wear
Runner up bargain buy of the month.
905118485 Sep-15-02 Old Bettoney SILVA BELL CLARINET $178.50
Marked Silva Bet, 4 piece. May be late model,
7 ring, articulated C#/G#, first class plating, locking
mechanism for upper & lower joint, comes with a
cork/bridge key protector. (However, bridge key
broken and half of A in throat missing.) Two keys
do not look pro quality. Serial number not from
silva bet series and doesn't match numbers on keys.
905900769 Sep-16-02 CONN DOUBLE WALL METAL ALBERT $621.00
13 key simple system, made around 1900
probably high pitch
907255799 Sep-16-02 VINTAGE SILVER CLARINET ALBERT SYSTEM $125.00
Student albert. (About 1 in 50 metal clarinet listings
are for albert systems.)
906138980 Sep-17-02 Professional Conn Silver Metal Clarine $701.00
4 piece, restored, great case
907041435 Sep-20-02 Stop, Look!Antique all Metal Clarinet $155.85
Silva Bet, barrel frozen and shortened (right length,
so it works. Restored but needs some work
3 piece
906877921 Sep-21-02 Fabulous Pro Silver Conn Clarinet no bids
($650 asking price) 5 piece, adj barrel,
restored.
907176706 Sep-22-02 H Bettoney Silva-Set clarinet SILVER? $202.50
Silva Bet 4 piece, 7 ring, adj barrel (frozen) broken
bridge key (but seller says piece "screwdriver" is
inside case,
906491767 Sep-22-02 Silver Clarinet ..... Advanced Pro Des $255.00
Bundy (Step down from Selmer Master Model)
5 piece, 7 ring, articulated C#/G#, Restored
Nice looking case
906597705 Sep-23-02 Selmer Silver Clarinet no bids
($850 asking price) 4 piece with bell attached to
lower joint. Adj. barrel
907523711 Sep-24-02 OLD H. BETTONEY SILVER PLATED $170.50
Silva Bet 3 piece, adj barrel, coffin style case
Extra banana key for C#/G# despite not having
articulated C#/G# (unusual)
907651084 Sep-24-02 STUDENT CLARINETS NO RESERVE $138.62
A Silver king & a Silva Bet (Student clarinets, hrummpf!!)
Silver king has adj. barrel.
The Bet has Adj barrel & articulated C#/G#.
Both look to have a lot of tarnish & the King has
pitting in the plating & a dent or two.
(Catch of the month.)
907776916 Sep-25-02 PEDLER METAL ALTO CLARINET $408.33
Student model, but an Alto and therefore rare
and collectible. (some plating wear, down to low E)
907963666 Sep-26-02 KOHLERT METAL BASS CLARINET $701.00
Only down to E, Gold wash in bell, pearl buttons
on main finger positions 5 piece
907718753 Sep-28-02 VINTAGE H. BETTONEY SILVER $192.50
Silva bet
908114216 Sep-29-02 PEDLER American Silver $222.50
Pro design, 4 piece (with attached, but adj bell)
Original case special designed for this instrument.
908164295 Sep-29-02 Selmer silver metal clarinet,orig.case $524.99
5 piece, articulated C#/G# (with pad through
cork in joint, 7 rings Restored. Non-adj barrel
906970779 Sep-29-02 King Sterling Silver Professional Bb $900.00
Gold wash in bell, 5 piece, std Silver King
double walled barrel & double walled bell lip.
Completely overhauled
909968631 Oct-01-02 Worlds Finest Silver Metal Clarinet. $480.00
Candy Bettoney Silva Bet 3 piece
working condition
909357692 Oct-02-02 Selmer Paris 4 piece pro-model metal c $580.00
5 piece (incl. mpc) with 7 rings, articulated C#/G#
forked Eb. Not restored. (Earlier model without
the adj. barrel.)
909276220 Oct-02-02 Sweet Old Silver King Professional $455.00
3 piece made between 1935 & 1937. Double
walled barrels (A=440 & A=444) but single walled
lip on bell.
909460923 Oct-03-02 VINTAGE BRASS CLARINET OR OBOE $1,623.34
12 key in Eb or F (possibly high pitch) probably
made by Distin between 1850 & 1870.
Saltspoon keys, brass
908854066 Oct-03-02 SILVER KING METAL CLARINET $265.00
3 piece. Double walled barrel, single walled bell
Articulated C#/G#. In the pix, looks like it has a
slight bow. Seller says it play well.
911063619 Oct-03-02 Conn Clarinet Albert Metal Rubber
(Only the double walled barrel and Bel $395.00
so this one is an honorable mention. 13 key 2 ring
in beautiful condition.
909514550 Oct-03-02 Bostonian Silver Clarinet w. Case Comp $122.50
Maker not know, probably student model, but same
layout (and very similar case) to the Pedler pro.
Separate bell, barrel may or may not be attached.
909290326 Oct-05-02 OLD COUESNON SILVER CLARINET $530.59
double walled 4 piece. (Bell, main section, barrel
and mouthpiece) One ugly spot of solder
spoils about 1/4 inch of plating.
910920130 Oct-12-02 Vintage Selmer Gold-Plated $765.00
Some plating wear, 4 piece with attached bell,
Articulated C#/G#, but second banana key
disabled. Restored, adj. barrel
911490668 Oct-12-02 Penzel Mueller Double Wall Silver Clar$1,075.00
5 piece, restored, mint looking "Clari-Met" model
articulated G# key, a forked Eb key mechanism,
Left Hand Eb trill key
911781783 Oct-13-02 Antique King Sterling Silver Clarinet $152.50
Late 1920s, marked sterling on bell, 3 piece
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-10-14 15:29
VERRRY Interesting, Jim, TKS [?] for increasing my "hankerings" and congrats again on the "Vintage", let us know about it. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mice Elf
Date: 2002-11-01 21:33
Man, am I Dumb, guy said he had a strange instrument like a clarinet of straight sax with a trumpet type cup mouthpiece, said it was tarnished brass. So I bought it, Mail came, Inside was a blackened silver Buescher tru-tone clarinet with no mouthpiece, the "cup" mouthpiece was the tuning barrel. The tube is a little bent, but everything works, so I guess it gets pads and springs and I learn to play clarinet. I hope this thing can cut thru an electric blues band !!!! BTW, car mag wheel cleaner removes 1/8 inch of black goop pretty quick !!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
