 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chelle
Date: 2007-12-12 15:37
I bought this clarinet probably 10 - 15 years ago at an antique shop mainly because it was kind of a novelty. I have polished & cleaned it up a bit and I just recently started repadding it (I just repadded an old E-S Buffet that was given to me so I used some of the leftover pads on this one, but I need to buy more so I can finish it). I don't ever plan on playing it regularly or anything like that, but just to satisfy my curiosity, I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about it like maybe an estimated year it was produced, maybe what model it is (I know most metal clarinets are junk and "only good for making lamps out of" as the clarinet professor at my college says).
Here's some pics:
Still has the original case, although one of the handles is now broken:
http://chelle.mine.nu/clarinet/silver01.jpg
http://chelle.mine.nu/clarinet/silver02.jpg
Tunable barrel:
http://chelle.mine.nu/clarinet/silver04.jpg
The bell says (MADE BY C. G. Conn Ltd ELKHART, IND U.S.A.) and is gold washed inside. And on a side note, when the bell is screwed on all the way, the logo is on the backside of the clarinet. I'm assuming this has something to do with the threaded part on the lower joint being turned wrong, but is there any way to fix this?
http://chelle.mine.nu/clarinet/silver05.jpg
The serial number is B240734L (I did find a page that listed the approximate number of instruments/serial numbers being produced each year according to that site, I narrowed it down to 1928 - 1932. Does that sound about right?
http://chelle.mine.nu/clarinet/silver03.jpg
Post Edited (2007-12-12 15:41)
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Author: ianm
Date: 2007-12-12 16:08
Looks like a nice example of a Conn 524. Probably from around 1929. Looks to have been cleaned up and worked up on and quite possibly at this point the repair person fixed the bell which is usually screwed on. They are commonly found like this. I don't know of this can be rectified. It should not however effect how it plays. They tend to play sharp and have difficulties obtaining a suitable mouthpiece. I think they have a very small bore size. The lower octave right-hand B and A are often very sharp. They are reputedly one of the few professional metal clarinets made and some collectors and/or jazz players value them. I would guess one would auction for $300 -- $400 but yours might go for more as it looks in good condition. I think Wichita band supplies had one some time I go for around $1000 but it was in very good nick and I don't know whether it actually sold. Hope this helps. Ian
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Author: Chelle
Date: 2007-12-12 16:19
Thanks a bunch.
Wow! I only paid $40 for it. I never really knew what it was, but today when I was looking up the serial number, the site did say that the 524 was one of the good ones and the picture did look like mine so I was thinking maybe it was one, but I wanted to confirm. I never would have guessed it would be worth that much, though (not that I intend to sell it).
-Chelle
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-12-14 19:25
I think you did extremely well to get a C. G. Conn of that vintage for $40. It won't be the best clarinet you ever played, but it's definitely of interest to people who collect clarinets--in part because the silver-plated C. G. Conn saxophones of that era are first-rate instruments, renowned among sax players. If I saw a clarinet for sale for $40 that matched my Conn "Chu-era" saxes, I'd probably knock people over to jump in and snag it and I wouldn't give half a squeak if it played sharp.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2007-12-14 19:25)
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Author: Chelle
Date: 2007-12-15 04:52
Yeah, I don't expect it to be the best playing clarinet, but I have a thing for vintage instruments and I'm used to working around their little quirks. My primary instrument is a 40 year old Noblet bass clarinet and a friend recently gave me (for free - can't beat that) a 60 year old Evette Schaffer Buffet clarinet. I'm now actually looking for a vintage (preferrably silver) alto sax to use as another doubling instrument for the community theater pit orchestra I play in. Our next show that we're doing is West Side Story which is a bit jazzy so I may just take the silver Conn it for a few shows or at the very least rehearsals (depending on how sharp it is).
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