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Mouthpiece identification

Author: Dick Damon
Date: 2003-02-19 16:39

I have two old crystal mouthpieces with these markings: One looks like H K 4; the other H & K 4. The lettering looks to have been done with a vibrating point rather than etching, and is rather crude. The rails are wider than most mouthpieces and do not appear to have altered.

Does anyone have any idea of the maker of these mouthpieces or any clue as to what they are worth? I will email pictures of these if it would help in the identification.

Thanks,
Dick

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RE: Mouthpiece identification

Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-02-19 17:51

I'm not sure I can help a lot, however "H" mp designation was used by Selmer [and other mp makers] , "K" was used by Woodwind et al, numbers, 1-4 etc, by many. The earliest US glass mp maker I know of is/was? O'Brien, in Indianapolis, I believe. When Pomarico, and other Italian/German/French makers began, perhaps Riccardo [Pom] can help if he reads this, hopefully. Since special techniques and glass formulations are needed, many mp makers augmented their lines by "stencilling" their names onto glasses made by a few. Some of our good books, and our cl history buffs, will give HELP, please. I have a few old O'B's, Sel/Clarion, and GG/Poms and love them!! Don

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RE: Mouthpiece identification

Author: Pomarico snc
Date: 2003-02-20 07:15

Dear friends, talking about openings we produced, in the past, different numbers ( 1, 1l, 1c, 2, 2l, 2c...etc etc) then we started to use just five openings. We never used "letters" like H or K. And, sincerely, I have no idea from where these mpieces come from. Probably they were made of glass, not crystal.
That's all I can say to you.

Best regards

Riccardo Clerici

Pomarico s.n.c.

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RE: Mouthpiece identification

Author: Dick Damon
Date: 2003-02-20 23:16

Thanks for your remarks. The 'H & K' I would presume would be a logo and almost like script done by hand with an electric pencil. The 4 was on another raised portion and I assumed it was the lay designation. Only guessing, though. From the storage these came from they have to be very old. Along with them was a crystal Vandoren marked A3. Now this engraving is very precise and clean. Unfortunately this Vandoren has a very bad tip chip.

How can a layman determine the difference between crystal and glass? I was led to believe that all clear mouthpieces were either glass/crystal or a plastic of some kind. My assumptions were picked up on the street along the years and have no valid source.

Respectfully,
Dick Damon

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RE: Mouthpiece identification

Author: Dick Damon
Date: 2003-02-20 23:22

Well, when I first saw these particular mouthpieces I thought the two marked H K were the crystals that came with a pair of Selmers (L series BTs) that I bought in 1938. Those Selmer crystals, as I remembered were etched Henri Selmer signature. So that's what they look like. These HKs have the same appearance.

Respectfully,
Dick Damon

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