The Clarinet BBoard

Admit it. You clicked in to watch Mark bust me. [grin]

Guess what. I got this posting pre-approved. For those who tuned in late, we are not allowed to use the bulletin board for commercial purposes and Mark is tired of checking each eBay link to make sure it was really a ha ha and not somebody shilling something. Besides, the links go bad pretty quickly. What you will find below is the annual survey of metal clarinet prices on eBay. Write to me offline if you want a spreadsheet version of the file including auction numbers, etc. 153 metal clarinet auctions closed in February 2003. This doesn't include a whole bunch of auctions for new, Turkish albert system metal clarinets in the key of G. The listings show my best guess on whether each instrument was pro, intermediate, or student quality. In many cases, this is based on catalogs and direct experience. However, in many cases, I am guessing based on the appearance of the key work and the name. To my knowledge, the pro models always listed the maker name. I have combed the New Langwell Index, the archives and catalog listings for information on makers and model names. Of the 153 listings, 18 either had the auctions ended early or had no bids. Of the remaining auctions, 118 were for student models. Of these student models, 14 were seriously damaged or were missing the barrels. The average bid for these was $54. This leaves 104 auctions for restorable (or working) student metal clarinets. The average price for those was $63. The median price was $51. Interestingly, folks bid an average of $20 more for instruments made in foreign countries. Conclusion 1: You should be able to get a good looking, undamaged, repairable metal clarinet for under $60. Of the remaining instruments, I believe that 12 were professional quality instruments. Most of those sold for between $200 and $400. Conclusion 2: Between 5% and 10% of metal clarinet auctions are for professional models. This was true in the three previous surveys. Some of the instruments were listed more than once during the month. 147 individual clarinets were listed and of these, 94 (2/3) were made in the U.S. I do not know the country of manufacture for an additional 22. I am guessing that most of these also were made in the U.S. I am pretty sure who made 95 of the clarinets. The list includes 25 manufactures. The leading makers were Cundy Bettoney (20), C.G. Conn (14), H.N. White (11), and Holton (10). The most common models were the Conn Cavalier (10), the Holton Collegiate (9), the Cundy Bettoney 3 Star, and the LeBlanc Noblet (6). Feb-01-03 $367.00 No model name Holton U.S. Pro (sterling silver keys) Feb-01-03 $36.00 Madelon Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-02-03 $39.75 Collegiate Holton U.S. Student Feb-02-03 $20.50 Pathfinder Gretsch U.S. Student, badly tarnished Feb-02-03 $35.75 Gladiator H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-02-03 $368.00 Harry Pedler Model Pedler U.S. Pro Feb-02-03 $84.02 Madelon Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-02-03 $76.00 Hamilton H. Grossman U.S. Student Feb-02-03 $40.00 No model name Unknown Maker Student Feb-02-03 $42.00 Capital Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-02-03 $28.60 Brilliante Penzel Muller U.S. Student - damaged Feb-03-03 $59.00 American Standard H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-03-03 $33.00 Three Star Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-03-03 $55.69 Revelle Unknown Maker Italy Student Feb-03-03 n.b. rsv=$90 Paul Renne Paris Unknown Maker Italy Student Feb-03-03 $17.16 No model name Unknown Maker France Student (bell missing/sawn off) Feb-03-03 $45.69 No model name Unknown Maker Student Feb-04-03 $52.00 Silvertone (Sears) Unknown Maker Student Feb-04-03 $23.00 Victor Unknown Maker Student Feb-04-03 $138.62 Three Star Bettoney U.S. Student (good one) Feb-05-03 $50.00 Collegiate Holton U.S. Student Feb-05-03 $150.01 Pan American Special Conn U.S. Student Feb-05-03 $51.00 Noblet LeBlanc France Student Feb-05-03 $183.20 No model name LKohlert Bohemia Looks pro, 4 piece, great case Feb-05-03 $46.00 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-06-03 $26.00 Capital Unknown Maker Student Feb-06-03 $202.00 Silver King H.N. White U.S. Pro/restored/ 3 piece, double walled barrel, articulated C#/G# Feb-06-03 $26.00 Capital Unknown Maker Student Feb-06-03 $57.51 Pan American Conn U.S. Student Feb-06-03 n.b. rsv=$30 Rene Duval Unknown Maker Italy Studetnt- missing barrel/damage Feb-06-03 n.b. rsv=$260 Velvetone Unknown Maker Italy Student Feb-06-03 $102.54 Hoosier Pedler U.S. Student Feb-06-03 $22.27 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student (some damage) Feb-07-03 $26.00 National Paris Unknown Maker France Student -missing barrel Feb-07-03 $92.00 Noblet LeBlanc France Student (barrel missing) Feb-07-03 $43.00 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-08-03 $210.49 Robert Durand Durand France Student Feb-08-03 $36.51 Collegiate Holton U.S. Student Feb-08-03 $51.51 No model name Pedler U.S. Student Feb-08-03 $86.05 Collegiate Holton U.S. Student Feb-08-03 $40.00 Academy Unknown Maker Student Feb-09-03 $665.55 Master Selmer France Pro 5 piece, adj barrel, 7 ring artl C#/G# Feb-09-03 $31.00 Prep Wm. Frank U.S. Student Feb-09-03 $117.50 Three Star Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-09-03 $27.51 Columbia Bettoney U.S. intermediate - missing barrel Feb-09-03 $62.51 Noblet LeBlanc France student - missing barrel Feb-09-03 $1984.00 No model name Haynes U.S. Pro Eb double walled Solid Silver (really) Feb-10-03 n.b. rsv=$300 Bundy Selmer France Intermediate Feb-10-03 $297.00 Truetone 730 Buescher U.S. Pro - standard keywork, attached barrel. Feb-10-03 $47.00 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-10-03 $42.99 Gladiator H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-10-03 $42.01 P.X. Laube Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-10-03 $51.00 Henry Gunckel Trade name for U.S. import instruments France Student Feb-10-03 $139.95 La Monte Trade name for U.S. import instruments Student Feb-10-03 $61.00 Superior Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-11-03 $266.00 No model name Pruefer U.S. Eb unknown quality Feb-11-03 withdrawn Silver King H.N. White U.S. Pro Feb-12-03 $31.00 The Lark Stenciled by Larkin Music House U.S. Student Feb-12-03 $69.00 American Standard H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-12-03 $58.00 Durabilt Unknown Maker Student Feb-12-03 $112.50 American Perfection Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-12-03 n.b. rsv=$300 Bundy (relist) Selmer France Intermediate Feb-12-03 $36.00 Collegiate Holton US Student - missing barrel Feb-12-03 $72.00 American Standard H.N. White US Student Feb-12-03 $218.00 Silva Bet Bettoney U.S. Pro Eb missing barrel Feb-13-03 n.b. rsv=$100 No model name Conn U.S. Student Feb-13-03 $75.00 Gladiator H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-13-03 $60.00 Three Star Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-14-03 $62.33 American Standard H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-14-03 $46.01 Capital Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-14-03 $202.50 Harry Pedler Model Pedler U.S. Pro 4 piece (attached barrel, separate bell) Feb-15-03 $46.99 Pathfinder Gretsch U.S. Student Feb-15-03 $22.50 Gladiator (relist) H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-16-03 n.b. rsv=$79 No model name Hiller Kruspe Germanh Student Feb-16-03 $175.00 Baronet Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-16-03 n.b. rsv=$225 Velvetone (relist) Unknown Maker Italy Student Feb-16-03 $132.50 Custombilt Pedler U.S. Student Feb-16-03 $72.00 Collegiate Holton U.S. Student Feb-16-03 $190.00 Master Selmer France Pro 5 piece adj barrel articulated c#/G# (may have been private auction) Feb-16-03 $202.50 Henri Villere Unknown Maker France Student Feb-16-03 $50.00 Dixie Leader Unknown Maker Student Feb-16-03 $52.58 Collegiate (relist) Holton U.S. Student Feb-16-03 $31.00 All American Made Unknown Maker Student - missing barrel Feb-16-03 $39.88 Getzen Delux Probably Wurlitzer or Holton U.S. Student Feb-16-03 n.b. rsv=$69 Three Star Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-17-03 $75.99 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-17-03 $71.00 Cadet Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-17-03 $76.00 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-17-03 $45.00 American Made Easy Play Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-17-03 $80.00 Paul Renne Paris (relist) Unknown Maker Italy Student Feb-17-03 $39.88 Romain Braude Unknown Maker Student Feb-18-03 $52.51 Gladiator H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-18-03 $56.98 Sorkin Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-18-03 $111.05 Pan American Brilliante Conn U.S. Student Feb-18-03 $29.10 Collegiate Holton U.S. Student Feb-18-03 $296.00 Silva Bet Bettoney U.S. Pro (std 3 piece, adjustible barrel) Feb-18-03 withdrawn Artist Model Moennig Bros Germany Intermediate Feb-19-03 $51.00 Continental Clarion Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-19-03 $37.00 Noblet LeBlanc France Student Feb-19-03 $43.22 Hoosier Pedler U.S. Student Feb-19-03 $62.51 American Pedler U.S. Student Feb-19-03 n.b. rsv=$400 Boston Wonder Bettoney U.S. Intermediate Albert, newly restored Feb-20-03 $24.49 Benal Henton Knecht Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-20-03 $42.51 Greville - Paris Trade name for U.S. import instruments France Student Feb-20-03 $51.00 MacLede Unknown Maker Student Feb-20-03 $89.33 Noblet LeBlanc France Student Feb-20-03 $83.51 Odell [Vega and Thompson & Odell both used name, but around 1900] U.S. Student Feb-20-03 $42.00 Commander Gretsch U.S. Student Feb-20-03 $240.00 Bundy (relist) Selmer France Intermediate Feb-20-03 $565.06 No model name Cousenon France Pro double walled 5 piece Feb-21-03 $35.00 Whiting Unknown Maker Student Feb-21-03 $42.01 Gladiator H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-21-03 $49.00 Three Star Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-21-03 $78.00 Regent Ohio Band Instrument (probably H.N. White or Reynolds) U.S. Student Feb-22-03 $40.25 P.X. Laube Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-22-03 n.b. rsv=$499 Columbia Bettoney U.S. Intermediate Eb Feb-22-03 $62.00 Paramont Artist Penzel Muller U.S. Student Feb-22-03 $62.09 Elkhart Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-23-03 $37.54 American Perfection Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-23-03 $51.00 P.X. Laube Bettoney U.S. Student -looks bent in pix Feb-23-03 $51.00 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-23-03 $37.00 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-23-03 $20.50 Champion H. Grossman or Lyon & Healy U.S. Student - junker, keys missing Feb-23-03 $76.00 No model name Unknown Maker Student Feb-23-03 n.b. rsv=$69 Three Star (relist) Bettoney U.S. Student restored Feb-23-03 $32.00 Collegiate Holton U.S. Student Feb-23-03 $46.87 American Standard H.N. White U.S. Student Feb-23-03 $56.00 Noblet LeBlanc France Student Feb-23-03 n.b. rsv=$100 Diplomat Unknown Maker England Student Feb-24-03 $22.03 Collegiate Holton U.S. Student Feb-24-03 n.b. rsv=$75 A Fontaine Fontaine France Student Feb-24-03 $64.57 Supertone Imported by Sears Student Feb-25-03 $217.50 Rene Dumont Unknown Maker Student restored Feb-25-03 $51.71 A. Fontaine Trade name for U.S. import instruments Paris Student Feb-25-03 $56.00 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-25-03 $293.69 Silva Bet Bettoney U.S. Pro (std 3 piece, adjustible barrel) Feb-25-03 n.b. rsv=$50 No model name Unknown Maker Student Feb-25-03 $92.00 A. Fontaine Trade name for U.S. import instruments Paris Student (looks good, great case) Feb-25-03 $10.01 Cavalier Conn U.S. Student Feb-26-03 $76.00 Regent Ohio Band Instrument (probably H.N. White or Reynolds) U.S. Student "plays well" Feb-26-03 $43.00 Esquire Unknown Maker Student Feb-26-03 $149.00 Revere Trade name for U.S. import instruments France (probably) Student bent bell & broken key Feb-27-03 $43.02 Peerless American Unknown Maker Student Feb-27-03 $34.00 Wolverine Grinnell Brothers U.S. Student Feb-27-03 $102.50 American Student Unknown Maker Student Feb-27-03 n.b. rsv=$40 Mastertone Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-27-03 $81.00 Marked U.S. - made for military Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-27-03 $61.00 Supertone Imported by Sears Student Feb-27-03 $120.00 Three Star Bettoney U.S. Student Feb-27-03 $161.50 Bundy Selmer France Intermediate Feb-28-03 $61.00 No model name Unknown Maker Germany Student Feb-28-03 $36.00 Topper Unknown Maker U.S. Student Feb-28-03 $36.00 Regent Ohio Band Instrument (probably H.N. White or Reynolds) U.S. Student