The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-08-24 02:27
Two entries in The New Langwill Index:
Gras WWI, BI fl Lille 1836-p1950. Firms called variously 'J. Gras', 'J. Gras & Co.', 'Ch. Gras', 'Gras freres' based in both Lille and Paris claiming to have been founded 1836/1868 are recorded; they appear to have been both makers and dealers with factories in each city; it is not possible to determine a chronology; c1922 'Ch. Gras' advertised as successor to A. VION, 1925 as 'Ch. E. Gras established 1868', p1927 as 'J. Gras, Ch. Gras succr.'
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Gras, J. WWI, BI fl Lille 1868-p1927. 1868 established by J. Gras; 1899 directory listing; 1909 Ch. Gras fils successor; 1910 clients of THIBOUVILLE FRÈRES, who possessed his 'poinçon' (brand-marking tool); 1921 advertised 'usines à Paris, Colombes, Lille, maisons à Paris, Lille, Bruxelles, Valenciennes, Roubaix'. Employed `Prima' as trademark.
EXHIBITION:
Roubaix 1911
Tourcoing 1912
Gand 1913
Lille 1920
Frankfurt am Main 1927 (BI).
CATALOGUE:
160pp (1910), (1921), Manufacture générale d' instruments musicales 88p (p1927).
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2000-08-24 22:08
Thanks Mark! I also have a J. Gras clarinet. About a year ago I tried finding out any information on it without success, so this is great. I purchased the clarinet about 15 years ago at a garage sale for $40. It has no cracks and plays like a dream. It has leather pads and is in beautiful shape. How much do you think it is worth? It is kind of an odd manufacturer, so I have no clue.
Thanks again!
SusieQ
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-08-25 23:36
Instruments by unknown or odd manufacturers tend to be worth less than if they are by names that people recognize. Over the years there have been hundreds if not thousands of makers come and go and since they are unknown, potential buyers have no way of estimating the quality of the instrument. On the eBay auctions, instruments of little known makers generally go under $100.
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