 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: johnjon
Date: 2003-08-17 02:17
I recently purchased at auction a clarinet marked "Airline" on the bell. Has anyone every heard of this make? I can't find any info on it.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-08-18 16:07
"Airline" was a trademark of Montgomery Ward and Company, second only to Sears for many years in the mail-order business. Ward's was a retailer only, not a manufacturer. Airline was the name of Ward's radios (which were quite good), musical instruments, and some other items. By the way, such items sold by Sears were branded "Silvertone."
I have no idea who might have made your instrument, nor do I know anything about its quality.
Regards,
John
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2003-08-18 17:07
Hmmm...The company that made them wouldn't possibly have been a fly-by-night outfit, would it?
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Author: johnjon
Date: 2003-08-18 18:37
Thanks - love your sense of humor - and I think you're right.
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Author: johnjon
Date: 2003-08-18 18:40
Thanks for the info - very interesting. It actually sounds pretty good and I only paid $10 for it. By now it's probably an antique.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-08-18 20:58
Both Sears and "Monkey Wards" had excellent reputations for their house products made by outside vendors. I don't know for a fact but Conn and Selmer (U.S.) would be reasonable guesses.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-08-19 03:52
If it plays and sounds good, *any* Clarinet that sets you back only ten bux is a bargain.
One thought is that there are collectors who specialize in old Ward's Airline radios. Maybe there are those who have heart palpitations around Airline Clarinets. I dunno. (Don't hold your breath.)
Regards,
John
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Author: IQTech
Date: 2007-12-24 01:35
I had an Airline clarinet in high school. After eight years of playing, we had to pull the barrel out a full quarter inch to get it in tune. Just for kicks, my instructor actually switched me to another instrument to see if it was my playing style. He determined that there was, indeed, something wrong with the instrument.
He took my clarinet to a local repair man who reported that the major keys were bent, the middle tenon was cracked and all of the pads needed replacement. He also stated that the total cost of the repairs would be more than the value of the clarinet.
I still have it - could not bear to part with it - but it's not playable.
If this is indeed an Conn or Selmer instrument under another label, it might actually be worth repairing but so far, this is the first mention I have ever seen of the brand.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-12-24 06:13
Just be sure it hasn't got any 'airline cracks.
God I'm so witty.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-12-24 08:58
> Just be sure it hasn't got any 'airline cracks.
Actually, that's what I read in the subject in my first attempt. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
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Ben
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-12-24 15:15
As I recall, back in the 1960's, Wards, Sears, Penneys, etc all sold clarinets and some other band instruments, and all of them indicated in the product description that their horns were manufactured in Elkhart, Indiana.
Because I saw that city listed so often in catalogues, I formed the opinion that Elkhart must have been the center of the universe as far as musical instrument production was concerned . . . not unlike Cremona of old with respect to violins. It wasn't until after I had graduated from public school that I would ever beleive that anyone in France migh make a decent clarinet.
Yes, I was most naive then . . . now I think there is a very good possibility that some fairly nice horns are built in other cities, maybe even in Paris!!
Eu
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2007-12-24 15:55
Another city that surfaced during that same period was Elkhorn, WI. and of course, King (H. N. White) was in the Cleveland area lastly in Eastlake, OH.
For a real treat, go to http://www.kingwinds.com/ click Resources, then Woodwind. You'll find some download of many of Bonade's teaching tools.
HRL
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-12-24 21:22
It was Holton who was located in Elkhorn and I have an old Buffet that was made for them....probably late 30's. I also have a Silvertone hard rubber that plays surprisingly well(with me blowing). Both Sears and Monkey Wards were not known for being loyal customers and, so, used whatever manufacturer gave them the best deal. Their catalogs were highly valued in the days preceding indoor plumbing.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Dee
Date: 2007-12-26 02:52
johnjon wrote:
> Thanks for the info - very interesting. It actually sounds
> pretty good and I only paid $10 for it. By now it's probably
> an antique.
Unless it is on the order of 100 years old OR of significant historical interest, it probably doesn't meet the criteria to be an antique.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-12-26 10:08
> Yes, I was most naive then . . . now I think there is a very good possibility
> that some fairly nice horns are built in other cities, maybe even in Paris!!
Duh. Now you tell me. I've been working practically next door and failed to visit the world famous factories. ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
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Ben
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-12-26 12:26
Ben:
"I've been working practically next door and failed to visit the world famous factories."
No doubt you are referring to that world famous center of clarinet production in Grazlitz/Kraslice?
Eu
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-12-26 13:39
EuGene,
No, I meant Paris, Ky. You thought of a different Paris? There are tons of them; one is even in Arkansas...
But now that you mention it - I'm just done finishing a near-mint "Special"...and now I have to oil my bore. ![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif)
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Ben
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