The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-16 14:05
Bob,
Nope. I've toyed around with the idea of an ACTUAL ivory barrel and/or bell. The clarinet pictured above is faux ivory though.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-16 14:27
Yup Mark. I learned about those laws too (when investigating custom made pool cues). However if they are able to find ivory already in the US for pool cue parts, I'm sure there's a source where you can find a chunk big enough for a barrel.
THe only problem is that the longer you wait, the harder it is to find a piece and the more costly it will be (considering it's a non-replenishable source in the USA. Unless you look at the black market which I'm not about to do.)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-01-16 16:27
You might see another problem if you look at some of the old old ivory instrument pieces. Many are not in good shape. Ivory care may be even more difficult than wood. Exposure to some environments apparently tends to make it crack. "Ivory Doctor" is not available, you may have noticed.
How about getting from Siberia a piece of wooly mammoth femur? Or maybe a smaller bone that would have a marrow space of about the right bore? Wonder how that would work? Sure would make a mammoth conversation piece, eh?
Regards,
John
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-01-16 19:20
JMcAulay wrote:
> "Ivory Doctor"
> "mammoth conversation piece"
Now that's the old McAulay wit which I've grown accustomed to.
Thanks for making me smile ...GBK
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2004-01-17 03:50
It disgusts me that anybody would even think about using real ivory. There is no guarantee that it has not come from an illegal source. Remember, an elephant or rhinocerous has died to produce the ivory. Regardless of what the law says, anybody with half a conscience would baulk at using under any circumstances.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-01-17 04:56
Walrus makes it, Mark, not rhinoceros. Rhino horn is not ivory, it's keratin... sort of like a giant fingernail. Unfortunately, it has another "traditional" use related to sympathetic magic, so rhinos keep getting wiped out anyway.
Having finally read Mark Charette's link, I suggest that a piece of oosik might be a remarkable addition to your Clarinet, Alexi. And it's completely legal. But the origin was not quite spelled correctly on that website: should be "-ile," not "-al."
A friend who has a Grotrian Steinweg piano tells me that about a hundred years ago, the head of Grotrian figured elephant tusks would become very scarce, so he bought several tons of ivory for a long-term supply of piano key covers. Wonder what happened to all that stash? Or is Ray just pulling my leg?
Regards,
John
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-17 13:03
Rhino horn is a mass of bone and hair. Disgusting if you ask me.
And the idea still sticks in my head and I'd love to one day try it out. I think it'd at least be quite a conversation piece having a barrel and bell out of ivory. Ooooh! Or maybe I could convince Dave S to create an ivory mouthpiece!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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