 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2004-10-27 10:59
Does anyone know when Boosey & Hawkes introduced the extended D# trill key - and when or why they stopped?
I had a Regent in about 1961 with this key. I have an Emperor A, from 1968 which has the extension but a Emperor Bflat from 1973 which does not.
Thanks.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-10-27 13:57
M M, is this a "downward extension" of the touch on the smallest trill key ? I dont recall much detail from the few B&H's Ive seen, but believe that LeBlanc had something like it on some "old [now]" student plastics. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-10-27 14:07
I've seen it referred to as the "Reginald Kell" key -- allegedly he had something to do with its design or implementation. The "Series 2-20" model, which was sold in some quantities in the US and Canada and frequently shows up on eBay, has that key as well as a "fingernail" l.h. pinky C/F spatula. I believe these were made in the 1960-early 70s timeframe. I have two of these clarinets personally, and I like the extended key --- less of a stretch. I heard from somebody that B&H may have stopped installing these keys because clarinet teachers were complaining that it was enough of an improvement that students would find it difficult to go back to the traditional lower trill key design when changing clarinets!
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-10-27 14:22
My high school orchestra played at the MENC conference in Charlotte, NC in, I think, the spring of 1961. I stopped by the B&H display, and tthe rep said "Would you like to meet Reginald Kell?" I had a hard time listening to him, since I had to keep my jaw from hitting the ground in amazement.
He showed me a new B&H student model that they were introducing, which was probably the Regent. The bottom right hand trill key pointed straight down, which he said was easier to use. Also, the left hand F/C little finger key had cross-hatching engraving on it, which he said kept his finger from slipping off.
I think I still have, somewhere, a flyer for the instrument with Kell's autograph on it.
In a series of biographical articles on Kell that ran in The Clarinet a few years ago, the writer said that Kell had designed a new instrument, but that it had never been made. I think the full Kell design had other changes, but I don't know what they were.
I've never seen another clarinet with the Kell modifications, and I didn't know that they were put on the Emperor, which, as I recall, was B&H's next-to-the-top model. Correct me on this if I'm wrong.
I have read, both in The Clarinet and on this board, that Kell make his recordings on Martel or perhaps "false Martel" clarinets. When these wore out, he switched to B&H, but was never satisfied. See http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=94174&t=94019.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2004-10-29 13:28
I had also heard it called the "Jack Brymer" key. I went to a lecture/concert by him at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall when I was at school in the 1960's - he was playing a B&H plastic "Regent" and extolling its virtues - for at least some of the time if my memory is correct.
The 2 (I don't know why I've got 2 either!) Bflat Emperors I have (1973 and 1982) have both lost the extended trill key - which I think is a shame - but still have the very useful cross-hatching on the left hand F/C little finger key. It really does help to stop your finger slipping off.
Thanks everyone for your responses.
Malcolm
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