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Mazzeo Bell Prototypes???

Author: ghuba
Date: 2007-06-21 23:55
Attachment: Bells1.jpg (179k)
Attachment: Bells2.jpg (174k)

Recently, I was able to purchase in an Internet auction, a set of five unbranded bells -- reportedly from an estate sale -- that had a striking resemblance to the Mazzeo clarinet bell's distinctive shape. Upon receipt, I found that one of the five bells is very close to the bell on a production Paris Selmer Mazzeo clarinet (Model 10 or 9*) while the others vary somewhat from the production design in their girth (narrowness), dimensions, or weight of the overall bell. Two pictures of the five bells (with a Selmer Model 10 Mazzeo bell; 2nd from right in the two pictures) are attached. None of the bells is branded, but all have a number of features (rings, style of finishing wood) that make them look similar to the Mazzeo bell shipped on the Paris instruments.

Donald Hinson (who fixed some chips and restored the wood on the bells) and I have guessed that these might be prototypes of the Mazzeo bell design. It appears to me that one of the five bells is virtually identical to the production Selmer one while the other four have wider or narrower dimensions and lighter or heavier designs suggesting that someone was systematically experimenting with alternate designs.

Any guesses?

George

Post Edited (2007-06-22 00:03)

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