 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ngattis
Date: 2008-12-18 05:01
Attachment: HPIM1649.JPG (1088k)
Hello everyone, this is my first post!!! I am a clarinet major at Western Carolina University over half way done with my degree..in education!!
OK long story short..I was wandering around an antique shop and came across an old clarinet for $20. So I bought it.
Like the title says, its stamped D. Noblet- G. Leblanc..13 keys? 4 rings. The wood had no cracks in it although pads and corks are shot.
The barrel is stamped Noblet-Leblanc as well but appears to be composite? (smells awful) and the bell is plastic and marked R.S. Williams and Sons...a company out of Canada.
So can anyone tell me anything more about this clarinet and what I can do with it now? I am interested in playing it, when I have the money to have it fixed up!!
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Author: RachealDean
Date: 2008-12-29 03:32
I have a similar D. Noblet G. Leblanc Clarinet. My understanding is that the part that was more likely to be damage is the 5th section or the bell. The previous owner informed my father in 1978 that it was replaced... subsequently by The R S Williams Et Sons Limited.... D. Noblet/G. Leblance appears on all other sections except the original mouth piece.... no serial numbers legible...
I would be curious about it's value.... to replace a part the instrument must have carried some value....
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Author: RachealDean
Date: 2008-12-31 04:40
I've had a chance to take a better look at the trademarks on my clarinet.
Appears in a Dashed Border Oval with a Lyre at the top.
D. NOBLET
G. LEBLANC Succ. R.
LACOUTURE
GL - Edwardian Script Letters intertwined
Ste. S.G.D.G
Made in France
This all appears on the second section (below the mouth piece)
Keying system also seems to be different. First and Second fingerholes have no keys surrounding them like the later D Noblet G. Leblancs
Can anyone give me an idea the age of this instrument....
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2010-01-20 23:27
The Noblet business was taken over by Georges Leblanc in 1904. The instrument with two rings is what is often called a "simple-system" Albert clarinet. These were made up until about early WW2 so age range is from 1904 ~ 1940, although I'm inclined to think more like 1904-1920 in this case. Does it have a wraparound register key? and if you look at the keys that have a flat spring is the end of the screw holding the spring to the key visible as a dark dot on the top of the key? This would tend to date it somewhat earlier in the date range.
For the 4-ring Albert dating is similar 1904 ~ ?. same questions regarding spring screws and wraparound register key.
If you both could post a picture or two I'm sure the experts here can give you more info.
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Author: RachealDean
Date: 2010-01-21 02:26
Mine is en Eb clarinet according to the length.
I am not a clarinetist. If the register key the octave key, yes it is a wrap around key from just above the thumb hole.
The flat springs are indeed held in by screws but there is no shadowing on the top of the keys. I am assuming the screws are the same metal as the keys, silver.
I have included pictures.
PS... would not let me include pictures for this posting can e-mail pictures if required
Post Edited (2010-01-21 02:57)
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2010-01-21 13:38
check this to see screw ends in a couple of the keys - they show up as a dark dot
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/download.html/1,1577/b+s-3.jpg
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2010-01-21 21:46
The Canadian Encyclopaedia states that R S Williams & Sons was sold in 1928. The firm was then operated by the new purchasers under the name R S Williams Co Ltd. so I think that narrows the age of these horns down a bit. Williams made pianos and organs and imported and sold all kinds of other instruments. The actual maker(s) of the bells on these horns will probably be forever unknown.
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Author: RachealDean
Date: 2010-02-09 19:24
If you search under RachealDean, you will find another posting which includes pictures and facsimilies of the trademark.
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