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Re: Henri Chedeville?

Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2006-08-16 15:48

Hi Rusty and Chris...good old friends.

I don't think Bettoney mouthpieces are Henri Chedevilles but more likely they were made at the Chedeville factory in France. In fact, Henri Chedeville pieces were also made at the Chedeville factory.

The main point is that Henri was obtaining blanks from the Chedeville factory during the finest era of rubber manufacture. They were still being made from rod rubber and they had wonderful playing characteristics.

The term Chedeville can be confusing and perhaps misleading because like the Kaspar paradigm…there were two of them. I find it interesting that there were two Kaspars and two Chedevilles that finished mouthpieces. The thing that threads all of these mouthpiece finishers, is that they used blanks made by the Chedeville factory (Kaspar did also use other blanks as well).

“Chedeville” can refer to the men or the factory. Both Charles and Henri finished blanks made by the same factory, but mouthpieces marked “H. Chedeville” were only made during a relatively short time frame. “Ch. Chedeville” marked mouthpieces have been made for many years and their designs and compounds have changed a great deal.

The Chedeville mouthpieces and blanks that are marked “Artistic Facing” along the side of the table are among the better versions, but many of the best mouthpieces during those days did not have this marking. I think that any mouthpiece marked “Artistic Facing” is more likely to be a good player but it is not exclusive to those pieces.

Chedeville made blanks that were marked “Steel Ebonite” were usually good but not necessarily great. I know of many NY Woodwind Co. mouthpieces that were made from Ched blanks that were not great. The mouthpieces marked “Steelite Ebonite” were made by Riffault (I believe) in the late 60’s and early 70’s and I don’t think they were as good. I should mention however that some of the best mouthpieces of the past were marked “Artistic Facing” and they were also marked “Steel Ebonite” like the one Chris King shows in his photo…I am certain that his mouthpiece is made from the finest rod rubber and it has a beautiful sound.

I guess what all these rambling observations prove is that it is rather complicated…

Sorry to be so confusing.

Best wishes,

Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com

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Henri Chedeville? new

Bill

2006-08-08 23:38