 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-11-25 13:00
When did makers change to fitting long flat springs mounted on the pad cup side of the key extending past the fulcrum and makes contact with the body under the key touch (the speaker key being an obvious example) instead of short flat springs mounted directly under the key touches as seen on simple systems?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2008-11-25 14:36
One reason might be that longer springs have less angular deflection (per unit length) than shorter ones, thus less fatigue, thus would last longer before breaking. Another might be to eliminate the need to find 'open real estate' under the key touch for the spring to press against --- since there is already space made available for the key pivot posts, it makes logistical sense to mount a spring (flat or needle) there as well.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-11-25 15:23
Perhaps Al Rice in his "Classical Clarinet" book and Baines in his "History" may have something to say re: the evolution of springing methods, also Rendall and Brymer are sources. When I have time I'll look a bit. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-11-25 17:38
It was the Albert/simple system thingy that got me wondering - they have the short flat spring mounted on the underside of the touch that pushes the touch upwards to close the pad (and the tip digs into a saddle in the body - old 5 to 8 key flutes have these springs too), whereas modern clarinets (French and German) have the long flat spring that uses the entire curvature of the spring to pull the pad closed.
The long flat spring we're all accustomed to is by far the best way of springing lever keys, though I wonder who actually discovered this and first applied it (and if it was a big name in the development of woodwinds) - could it have been Buffet (with the Klose/Buffet 'Boehm' system clarinet), Brod or Triebert with their oboes, or Theobald Boehm himself (if he used lever-style thumb keys on his flutes)? Or Adolphe Sax?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-11-26 10:52
With the "wrap around" register key of the Albert wasn't it impossible to mount the spring as is done on the current system?
Bob Draznik
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-11-26 11:02
The wrap around speaker key had a needle spring, though on some clarinets until as recent as the '60s still had flat springs on the G# key due to the lack of sufficient room beneath the key barrel for a needle spring (eg. Buffet Eb clarinets).
Older Selmers had the flat spring on the RH F#/C# touch but then went to fitting a needle spring mounted in the lower pillar with the spring cradle on the key barrel.
But these flat springs were of the old style that were mounted on the key touch and pointed towards the key barrel - not mounted on the pad cup side of the key arm and extended past the key barrel as that wasn't possible.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-11-27 00:59
I have an early 1960s Buffet that has the flat spring on the UJ C#/G#. I also have a late 1920s Buffet that has the flat spring under the LJ F#/C#.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-11-27 10:59
.....and I have a couple of Vitos with coil springs under the register key and the A key.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-11-27 11:56
...and the C#/G# key. Some Yamaha 32II clarinets had a coil spring on the throat A key.
I used an early MkVI tenor that had a coil spring under the side Bb touch arm - not an original feature, but it worked.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-11-28 12:35
In years past I spent hours watching those little devils being made
Bob Draznik
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