 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Susan
Date: 2000-09-30 03:30
What is the most common type of finish on wood clarinets? I have a clarinet that is showing some wear in the shininess of its surface, mainly on the barrel. The finish doesn't seem to be any thing like varnish. Could it be shellac? For the record, the clarinet is a Selmer Signet Special, vintage 60s.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-09-30 04:56
It may have a "French" finnish. This a good rub down with linseed oil. I the 18th and 19th century, this was a very popular finnish on pianos and harpsichords (funiture too). Its not seen to much on clarinets as its time comsuming (higher labor costs) and not really needed with the hard blackwood. About the only thing finnished this way nowdays are custom gun stocks. The nice thing about the linseed oil finnish is like when someone left a cold drink on our old harpsichord (1791), all we had to do to remove the telltale circle stain was rub it down with more linseed oil.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-10-01 02:55
There was a long discussion on this subject not too long ago at EarlyClarinet. I don't remember the details - (I can plead old age - but shellac is a major ingredient - along with lots of 'elbow grease'. It's time consuming, as Willie mentions above, but beautiful.
Probably because of the additional labor cost it's not ordinarily done or really necessary for new horns. Yours may well have a French finish though, since it's a '60s model.
All this is only a guess on my part, Susan, but, if that is what makes your instrument 'shiny', I think Willie is correct that it's called French finish. I'd be very surprised if it's any form of varnish.
ron b.
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Author: Susan
Date: 2000-10-01 03:35
Thanks for the info. I have become sort of an expert on shellac as my family is restoring and old house. All of the woodwork, pocket doors, etc. are shellac. I mix my own shellac. I have various shades. I have read about the french polish technique but have not tried that yet. It is used a lot on guitars and other sting instruments. I'd like to check the EarlyClarinet site. What is the address?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-10-01 15:47
Susan, there is much excellent advice on all restoration and "old-playing" questions at 'earlyclarinet@egroups.com' [may be hyphenated, will check] . I have a 1940-60's Kohlert A clar which has the shiny exterior appearance, so I believe it is French-Finished, to which I credit its excellent condition and playability [really doubt its a plastic!!] . Please tell us of your research on this. Very interesting! , Don
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