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Franklin Mouthpiece

Author: jdstruck
Date: 2008-02-29 02:22

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone has information on a mouthpiece I have with "Franklin" stamped in uppercase letters on the back and the number "2" stamped just to the right of the facing. There is one of the same being sold on ebay right now, and they claim theirs is a "one of a kind special." Anything special or one(two)-of-a-kind about this mouthpiece?

JDS

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Re: Franklin Mouthpiece

Author: GBK
Date: 2008-02-29 03:34

jdstruck wrote:

> Anything special or one(two)-of-a-kind about this mouthpiece?

Make that three-of-kind.

I thought it sounded familiar, so I checked my box of discarded (read:junk) student mouthpieces.

Lo and behold there was a FRANKLIN, with a number 2, in the box.

It seems to have a rather long facing and a fairly narrow window.

I just tried playing on it -

And promptly put it back in the box.

...GBK

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Re: Franklin Mouthpiece

Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-02-29 04:23

I didn't know you were that old Glenn. [hot]

What you undoubtedly have is an extremely rare mouthpiece by Ben Franklin, who has been widely acknowledged as the Kaspar of his day. Unfortunately his mouthpieces only work on the (mostly) boxwood clarinets that were around then. (That accounts for the long facing and small window.) It's amazing to me that so many of his mouthpieces are suddenly turning up. (BTW, rumor has it that he invented bifocals so that he could achieve greater accuracy in his facing curves.)

Best regards,
jnk

Post Edited (2008-02-29 04:26)

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Re: Franklin Mouthpiece

Author: GBK
Date: 2008-02-29 04:43

Jack -

...GBK

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Re: Franklin Mouthpiece

Author: stevesklar
Date: 2008-02-29 09:39

I have one too that I have had for who knows how long.

I have many boxes of mouthpieces, categorized in A, B, C boxes etc. based on their playing & tonal characteristics

The Franklin sits in a drawer

I think the lack of information on it someone has surmized that it must be rare.

==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information

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Re: Franklin Mouthpiece

Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-02-29 13:02

Vunderbahrr, fellas ! Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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