The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

H.Bettoney Ponderings...

Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-07-23 14:12

I've recently acquired a wooden Bettoney A lower joint from the same seller I bought my recent Selmer set from (as well as a spare Series 9 bell for the A), and the workmanship on this is fantastic - the keywork being Buffet-like in design, but with the extreme ends of the RH F#/C# and E/B touches bent downwards like the LH lever touches. The Buffet-like logo has some script writing in the oval (in between H.Bettoney and Boston) which I can't quite decipher - is it C G Co or C B Co?

The middle socket is fully lined and has a double socket arrangement which telescopes into the top joint middle tenon (like a wooden flute or piccolo headjoint). Would the mid tenon on the top joint have been metal lined on the inside to make a perfect seal?

I'm assuming this joint is from the first half of the 20th Century going by the thumbrest which is mounted vertically (with a screw above and below), the single pillar mounted LH E/B and F#/C# levers and also the flat spring under the RH F#/C# touch. The serial number is G845

I also have a spare Q-series Selmer CT A top joint (minus the LH2 ring key which I could make from scratch unless I find something that fits), and wonder if it's worth making a hybrid A clarinet from these parts. That would mean either cutting out the telescoping part of the socket on the Bettoney, or enlarging the bore at the mid tenon on the CT joint. The bores appear to be the same size as they don't meet with a step from what I can see.

I can't see any harm in fabricating a single A clarinet from redundant parts, provided the end result works well and plays in tune.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics