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Is this the right bell?

Author: Tim F
Date: 2003-12-17 15:05
Attachment: marigaux.jpg (33k)

Hi folks,

I don't post here very much, but I've been reading and learning a great
deal. Thanks for being such a great resource! I'm more of an aspiring
repair technician than a player, although I'm enjoying learning to play
also. Over the years, I've done a fair amount of my own instrument
maintenance and repair - guitars, bass (electric and upright), violins,
sax and clarinets. As a mechanical engineer, it sorta comes naturally to
me (as long as I do enough research first and be careful to not get in
"too deep"). Maybe I'm weird, but even repairing Leica cameras is a
relaxing pastime for me.

But enough disclaimer, I have question for the older instrument enthusiasts
here on the board. I've recently acquired another project clarinet, this one
is an SML Marigaux. Looking past the grime, bent keys and chipped tenon,
it feels like a fine instrument. The odd thing to me is that there is a
small step at the junction of the lower joint and the bell. Please refer to
the attached photo - sorry, I didn't quite get the best angle to show this
mismatch.

Is this mismatch normal for an SML Marigaux? Or is it likely that this bell
was a replacement? Does a bell from any other size clarinet fit onto a Bb
instrument? The fit over the tenon is quite good.

Thanks for your help!

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Re: Is this the right bell?

Author: Tim F
Date: 2003-12-17 15:08

Sorry, that should have read: "enthusiasts of older instruments"

<grin>

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Re: Is this the right bell?

Author: BobD
Date: 2003-12-17 15:18

Tim: please email me direct at gfoxx@msn.com as I have lengthy comments. Bob Draznik Joliet,Illinois

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Re: Is this the right bell?

Author: ron b
Date: 2003-12-17 16:54

I offer my personal opinion. First of all, I'd make sure the bell tenon ring is on the right way. As a repairer, and with your background, you could probably get anything to play pretty well, Tim. You've no doubt seen your share of 'rescued from the dumpster' horns. You've possibly seen a few mismatched things that somehow fit together and actually played, maybe not perfect but okay when you got 'em to working right. If the length of the bell is nearly correct and the tenon's a good fit, I wouldn't be too concerned about cosmetics. Playability and intonation would be my primary interest... then make it pretty -- especially for a "project" instrument such as your Marigaux.
Can't tell a lot from the pic you posted. For all I know the instrument might be a gem

- r

n b -

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Re: Is this the right bell?

Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-12-17 17:21

My experience on oldie-moldies is not that great, and I have never worked on a Marigaux, but I've seen as "bad." Back in the days of hand-operated lathes and the like, variations such as this were more common than nowadays.
I'll bet this is a fine one when finished.

Regards,
John

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Re: Is this the right bell?

Author: Tim F
Date: 2003-12-18 12:04
Attachment: marigaux2.jpg (22k)
Attachment: tenon.jpg (35k)
Attachment: chips.jpg (29k)

Ron, please don't give me too much credit yet. I've not worked on a great number of clarinets!

I checked the tenon ring and it is not reversed. I got out a micrometer and measured the small end of the bell to be 1.270 inches in diameter, while the shoulder of the lower joint tenon is 1.215, for a difference of 0.055 inch (55 thousandths). That makes the step about 27 thou (or 0.7mm).

Objectionable? Not to me, but it is very noticable.

In case anybody cares, I've attached some more images. The first is just an overall shot of this Marigaux. The second shows the repaired tenon - it had a couple of triangular chips, one was maybe 8mm on a side while the other was about half that. Finally, the third photo shows the chipped areas of the lower joint, there's the reason I wasn't too intimidated to work on this instrument, it's doubtful to ever have a high dollar value due to this damage.

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