 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-22 15:22
Attachment: plating1.jpg (63k)
Attachment: plating2.jpg (62k)
I have a 1930s (K series) Selmer Paris clarinet with what looks like plated keywork. Has anyone else seen vintage Selmers with plated keys? Have no idea what the plating could have been (two photos attached).
Bill.
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2007-01-22 15:36
I'm not sure, but it looks to me as though a previous owner has tried to add some kind of a coating. Crude plating? or possibly some kind of lacquer or paint?
Post Edited (2007-01-22 17:43)
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Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-22 15:45
That was my guess too, John. I didn't invent the clarinet, but I run a kind of orphanage here for 30's/40's Selmer Paris clarinets and have never seen plated keys before. Also wondered whether a customer, back then, could special order plating. I dunno.
Bill.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-01-22 15:50
Looks like these keys have been lacquered rather than plated - when I got my first set of Centered Tones, both had gold lacquered keys which was easy to remove - I then had them both silver plated after cleaning them all up.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-01-22 15:58
Looks very similar to gold color lacquer on an old metal Noblet I have.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-01-22 18:26
FWIW My old Sel A, with "wings" on its logo + HS ! , a 1929, I believe, has dark keys, much like well-tarnished silver, which "rubs" lighter. I have resisted using silver polish so as to NOT take off the Ag. My Pruefer 19/7 has very shiny keywork, TKS to John Butler, which looks more Ag than shiny Ni, to me. For me I guess its playing vs appearance. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-22 19:37
Attachment: 1275 one.jpg (64k)
Attachment: 1275 two.jpg (41k)
Attachment: 1275 three.jpg (44k)
Attachment: case.jpg (89k)
Sidebar: I sold Selmer "winged globe" serial number 1275 (1928), an A clarinet. Talk about regrets! Had the most interesting markings on some of the keys - I've attached a photo. All I have left is a full set of photos! Check out that case!
Bill.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-01-22 20:29
I have assumed those old "vertical" cases were what military personnel used
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-01-22 21:03
Bill, TKS for pics, Velly interesting, however, I don't have your old horn. My A has P and B on the bottoms of the [Rt hand] F# and E keys , an old double case [junk] and better looking wood. I've tweaked it into a fair player, a "dark one", and would love to have a need for it, will offer it [for use] to the cl f[r]iend I gave up my symp. seat to. I gave a sim. case, inherited on an old 13 keyer, to a Misic Store owner-friend. Ah, memories. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-01-22 22:40
Bill, those look like hallmarks stamped into the keys - were the keys solid silver?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-23 01:57
I've looked through the rest of the phtoos I have, and I can't really tell whethewr the keys were "German silver" (or whatever is the best term for the metal used prior to plating) or something else. The keys do seem shinier than the "German silver" I have known. Less milky and opaque.
I did think the markings, which look almost like the diamonds (etc.) of playing cards, were interesting.
Bill.
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2007-01-26 01:45
I've seen similar strange plating (or maybe lacquering, as other posters have suggested) that seemed to chip rather than wear off, on two old Selmers, a 'Brevete' Eb and an early L-series Bb.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-01-27 14:38
"Bill, those look like hallmarks stamped into the keys - were the keys solid silver?"
Probably not as unusual as it sounds since it's easy to imagine an instrument repairer using silverware to make a needed key.
Bob Draznik
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