 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SJ
Date: 2004-08-03 16:46
For the metal clarinet buffs, Are there different versions of the H.N. White co. "Silver King"? I've seen photos of what appears to be a "lip" on the bell with "U.S." stamped on the bottom as well as a non lipped more conventional bell with a different "Silver King" engraved logo. Are these different models or an evolution of the same horn?
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2004-08-06 04:47
Steve
The Silver King evolved from the late 1920s (?) to the early 1950s. I think
that they always used the name Silver King, but at some point they added a
"MicroSonic" model, which relatively quickly turned into the "SilverSonic"
model. MicroSonic -- "small sound" -- what a dumb name. I have one and I
think the only difference between it and my Silver King is that it breaks in
the middle. However, I have seen silver kings that broke in the
middle, too, and a Silver Sonic that didn't.
The first Silver Kings did not have the doubled lip and had a barrel that
looks similar to the barrel on the American Standard -- the sockets are slightly wider than the middle. I am not at all sure about timing. Sometime in the early 1930s they offered the "telescopic barrel with extra long cork" which is the double walled barrel you mostly see. The single lip bell is described as sterling silver. A 1936 catalog still shows the single lip bell. A 1940 catalog shows the double lipped bell -- also sterling silver -- and mentions "silver lining" -- whatever that means. (Like other models were not silver plated inside.)
A 1947 catalog mentions the MicroSonic and also offers an adjustible barrel.
A 1953 catalog shows the Silver Sonic and doesn't mention the adj. barrel
Personally, I suspect that the adj. barrels were like the fins on the 1957
cadilac. Way cool but useless.
"U.S." on the bell means that the horn was used by a service band. I have
also seen "USMC" and "N.P." -- which might mean navy patrol.
I am sure that the engraving changed over time. For one thing, I think they
tended to put less scrollwork on models sold to the armed forces. I guess
you would need a lot of examples to see a pattern.
cheers
jim
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