 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-07-25 04:42
After much searching I finally found an Albert system clarinet in an antique store for 35 dollars.
The instrument is in remarkably good condition. A few pads should be replaced. No cracks in the wood. Keys line up....no missing parts. However, there is not a mark on it. No serial number or brand name. Is this common? It is wood and it is obviously old.
Also, the mouthpiece has concentric rings on it which appears to me that a string ligature would wrap around.
Any thoughts on this "treasure?"
Off to Band Camp this weekend. Does that make me the epitome of a clarinet nerd or what? Seeing as though I am middle-aged, not a teenager.
Thanks in advance.
Jean
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-07-25 05:05
With the mouthpiece as you describe, I would suspect that this is a German System Clarinet rather than Albert, not that there is much obvious difference. I don't know of mouthpieces made for Alberts that were designed for string ligatures (but no, absolutely I do not know everything).
You might examine the mouthpiece to see if it appears to have a narrower opening than a standard "French" mouthpiece. If it does, it's likely a German stick.
Anyway, for 35 bux, I would be almost certain to buy it, if it seems to be in decent shape and not just a CSO.
Regards,
John
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Author: ned
Date: 2003-07-25 05:14
Jean,
How many keys, how many rings and are there rollers for L5 and R5?
I have one or two "no name" clarinets - one is German and one is "simple" or, more correctly a Muller system. The German model is quite OK but the "simple" is practically unplayable, due to it's state of disrepair. It's also made of hard rubber and has a crack in it - I'm not sure it warrants any attention.
Have you tested your antique job for pitch? Is it high or low?
If it plays well and is in tune then it's obviously worth something more than $35 - if not you could hang it on the wall.
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-07-25 13:36
I already bought it. It is my experience with antique stores one buys NOW. It plays well, aside from the missing pads.
The mouthpiece is smaller in size. My ligature slips all over the place. There is no marking of lp or hp. I did a little tuning and I am guessing it is low pitch.
I have a good friend in the repair biz who I may ask to work with me on this one.
Thanks for the good advice. I will pull it out later and count the rollers, etc.
BTW the a key is not the wrap around key one often sees on an Albert which had me originally wondering if it was not an Albert. Does that make it an Oehler?
Jean
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-07-25 15:14
If you have some time for research, I'd suggest making several searches on EBAY using clarinet AND antique [23 hits], or old, albert, muller, early ,simple etc, to find a pic like yours, for us to comment on your good bargain!! Lots of "false-drop" , like an old flute will show up! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-07-25 16:30
As a lifelong player of Albert (and Oehler) horns, Jean, I wholeheartedly agree with those who declare that none of us knows everything... and only a few of us know something about anything 
From personal experience I'd look first of all at whether your horn is standard pitch and go from there. If you tuned using an open G you're probably all right. Otherwise, HP horns are great to have around for borrowing key parts and grinding up for grenadilla dust and still a bargain at 35 bucks.
I own several instruments, am a bit beyond middle age and can assure you that it's OK to be a Nerd if you feel obligated to put a label on enjoying life's eccentricities.
I should compare notes with John K sometime; we seem to be on parallel wave lengths. I think only one of my instruments has a full wrap-around register key. The Oehler has a "half-way-around" one - sliver key fashion. All the others are normal. That's no indication of anything, system-wise, other than a design feature that may indicate it was a little more expensive to produce. Some Boehm horns have them too. The sales pitch is that they don't collect water as readily.
Alberts seem, to me, to fall pretty much in the same category as modern instruments - the well knowns (Buffet, Selmer etc.) are best, and more expensive and lesser known makers and importeds are good, fair, middlin' - not too many are really poor but I suppose some were. No-names are not uncommon, even today, but I wouldn't let that deter me. The proof of its worth is how it performs for you.
I think you got a good deal, by the way
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-07-25 22:13
I have the clarinet and an Albert fingering chart in front of me. There are rollers for R5 and L5. However, for L5 there is an additional key much like the modern bass clarinets have for Ab/Eb. It fits between the roller keys.
Also, what we call the C#/G# key on the Boehm system has a small added piece so that it can also be played with the first finger of the right hand.
There are 4 rings. Including the thumb hole I count 16 keys.
I will try to get a photo off next week so that we can solve this puzzle. In the mean time I am taking it to camp with me. Maybe the clarinet teacher will have some insight.
Jean
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-07-26 01:17
What you have is a German-system instrument, probably a variety known as 18/4 (18 keys, four rings -- it's tough to determine, as multi-function keys are counted more than once). Two giveaways are the trill plate on the C#/G# key (not found on Alberts, and impractical on a Boehm because R1 is so far from the C#/G# key) and the G#/D# L4 key, which no Albert ever had.
Most fingerings are as shown on your Albert chart, others will be easy to figure out. Good luck on learning the "other" fingering scheme. By the way, the Oehler is much more complex than the instrument you have there.
While "ordinary" reeds will fit a German mouthpiece, Vandoren Black Master and White Master reeds are designed for that purpose. Also, ligatures can be bought for the German mouthpieces, but I generally use Velcro.
Regards,
John
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-07-27 01:59
There are some tell tale indentifying features that will allow you to make educated guesses as to where it was made and roughly when.
Makers in different countries used slightly different manufacturing techniques. Look for some of the following. Are needle springs present or are they all leaf. Are the leaf springs screwed in or cold riveted. Are the drill rods screw in or push in and likewise are they striaght or shepherds crook. Is the throat G# a wrap around or down the side. Is the register vent wrap around or on the back. Like John said it may be an 18 key Oehler although grooved mouthpieces were used in eastern Europe on everything.
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