 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brian Downs
Date: 2000-03-18 20:01
I was recently given a metal William Nurenberger Clarinet by a family member. I want to know if this instrument is worth restoring. It is in really good shape. I only need to replace pads, polish up, etc. also, does anyone know ho much this clarinet goes for today? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-03-18 22:00
I can't speak to this particular brand but here is what I have observed on eBay
Beginner quality: $50 and down, depending on condition
Intermediate quality: $50 to $100, depending on condition
Pro quality: not enough show up to summarize. As a general comment there were very few pro ones made as the market resistance was too high.
As you can see, the monetary value is generally insignficant. However in my opinion they are worth fixing up and putting into playing condition just for the fun of having a functioning piece of clarinet history.
Just as today's beginner grade clarinets vary significantly in quality so too did the metal beginner ones. Some were fair and some were terrible. Due to the many poor ones made, metal clarinets gained a bad reputation and most makers discontinued them in the 1940s although at least one continued well into the 1960s.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-03-18 23:08
Fix it up and have fun with it. DON'T USE SILVER DIP or any polish with acid in it. It will eat your springs. Most repairmen will tell you to use leather or cork pads on it. If you can afford it, go for it, but I've used skin pads (cork on register key) on mine for over three years now with no problem.
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-03-20 15:51
I restored a William Nuernberger "American Professional" metal clarinet last year, and it played surprisingly well after I was done. Unlike many other metal clarinets, it was well-made. However, when I tried to sell it, I was lucky to get $150 for it, and it was in excellent condition. So, restore yours for your own pleasure, but don't expect it to be worth anything when you're done! The only metal clarinets with any commercial value at this time are the rare double-wall professional models (Selmer, Haynes, maybe a few others). Even so, I don't expect you'll ever see anyone in a symphony orchestra play a metal clarinet. You might find a few being played in jazz bands or maybe klezmer groups, but that's about it. The reputation of metal clarinets in general has been so besmirched by the plethora of lousy student/marching instruments that were made back before WWII, that almost all metal clarinets, regardless of brand or condition, ar practically worthless today.
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Author: Olaf
Date: 2000-04-08 10:18
Don't think, restore it man!!
Play until the blood comes out the end, and feel happy you've got a metal clarinet!!!!
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Author: blazian
Date: 2009-01-30 00:36
I recently purchased one of these from that auction site. Do you think the value has gone up by now? It seems even the worst are going for high prices these days.
- Martin
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2009-01-30 02:46
If someone's got one they want to get rid of, I've been looking to acquire one for some time...
anway, are there specific brands to avoid or to go for?
www.youtube.com/nmraskin
www.musicedforall.com
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2009-01-30 12:40
This brand comes up often on the auction site and don't sell for much. If if looks well constructed, I don't know why it wouldn't be worth fixing to play, though. I know Haynes, Conn, Penzel-Mueller, Triebert, and Cuesnon (I've seen the Penzel-Mueller, Conn, and Triebert models appear on the great auction site in the last couple of years) made double wall metal clarinets, Dave, but I didn't think Selmer did? The single walled Selmer are at least the most beautiful of those in my opinion- I wish I had one to play and admire. I have a metal Alexandre Paris clarinet I got for $100 (comes apart like a "normal" clarinet") which needs work, but can be played. I think it sounds great, very comfortable to play, and it is light as a feather. I think it will be wonderful once it is restored. If you want to know about metal clarinets, see www.silver-clarinet.com or there is a french metal clarinet site as well that I can't remember at the moment that has a ton of pictures... The best ones are supposed to be Selmer, Conn, Buescher, Penzel-Mueller, Cuesnon, Triebert, H.N. White King "Silver King" and asst. others, early Noblet, Bettony "Silva-Bet", Buffet, and select French models/stencils. Pro models can often be recognized by a mechanical tuning barrel, a gold wash inside the bell, comes apart in multiple sections, etc...- though not always.
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2009-01-30 19:32
Rough draft - apparently sent by error.
Post Edited (2009-01-30 19:54)
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2009-01-30 19:52
Attachment: ClarinLmp.jpg (85k)
If the primary purpose is to practice overhauling a clarinet, that would be reason enough to do the project. However, if the purpose is to put the metal clarinet into playable shape after which it will be played only as a novelty, I offer a much-maligned (on this board) alternative.
The attached photo shows my $50 local advertisement (pre-internet sales), unplayable without an overhaul, Henry Gunkel (Paris). It does not languish in a closet and it is seen and used almost every day. It can be returned to its as-purchased condition in about 5 minutes, as it is held to the marble base by a threaded rod extending its length.
True - it is not shiny, but the experts on Antiques Roadshow insist the natural patina of an older item enhances its desirability. The darker color also matches the teak table on which it normal rests.
If it were in perfect condition, would I play it instead of my R-13 Greenline? Not likely.
Of course, you could do both - overhaul it and play it, and then convert it to this more useful function.
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2009-01-31 02:13
I hope nobody makes a lamp out of me when I lose my luster.
B.
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2009-01-31 22:33
Please, send all your worthless C.G. Conn, Selmer, Silver King, etc.. metal clarinets straight to me...thanks! Anyway pro metal clarinets show up on the great auction site all the time. A poor condition Harry Pedler Boehm just sold for $350+ and IIRC, recently an unrestored Buffet metal went for decent $$$, something like $700-800.
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Author: blazian
Date: 2009-02-03 02:27
Ok so I got my Nuernberger today and it's almost in pristine condition. I completely removed all the tarnish on the body and I'll do they keys and order pads tomorrow. The pads were good enough to use so I played it a little and it actually sounds exactly like a clarinet! This one's a keeper.
- Martin
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2009-02-04 02:00
I just bought a metal clarinet from ...ebay... I'll have it in a few days and I'll leave a review...
www.youtube.com/nmraskin
www.musicedforall.com
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2009-02-04 13:12
I hope you bought that Frank Holton solid sterling clarinet. I wanted it so bad but my wife would have killed me even if it was free. In fact, it went so cheap that it was almost free. It needed much restoration, but still. Anyway, it looked like a Silva-Bet stencil to me, but the keys and body were marked S/Sterling. Did they make solid sterling Silva-Bets?
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2009-02-04 17:58
I bought a Dupont Superior metal clarinet. I got it pretty cheap. I'm not really looking for anything professional. I bought it as a novelty and to practice some repair skills.
Does anyone know the history of this brand? I did a search and didn't come up with anything conclusive.
www.youtube.com/nmraskin
www.musicedforall.com
Post Edited (2009-02-04 17:58)
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Author: Audita
Date: 2013-11-25 00:49
I have a William Nuernberger clarinet that has been passed down in my family. When our home burned down 21 years ago it's wooden case was mostly burned away but the clarinet survived. It isn't straight any more and the bell has a few dings in it. Because it has been in the family for a long time and three generations have played it (two in marching bands) I would like to restore it but have no idea where to start. I have replaced pads and corks but I need extra help with this.
ruth@usa.net
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-11-25 02:22
Audita -
There's not much hope of restoring this clarinet. The consensus is that it's a low-level student instrument with little or no intrinsic value. Straightening it out, so that the mechanism would work, will be very difficult if not impossible, and the restored instrument would be unlikely to play well.
Nevertheless, two generations of your family members have played on it and enjoyed it. I advise keeping it as a family treasure but leave it as it is. You might want to bring it to any living family members who played it and record their memories.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Audita
Date: 2013-11-25 07:56
Ken, It isn't a student instrument. It was made in Germany before WWII. My clarinet teacher thought it had good tone for a "metal" clarinet. It is an open hole and didn't sound tinny at all. I was still embarrassed as a kid to have an instrument that was "different" but I did well with it.
I unwrapped it and took a good look at it today. The bowing is barely perceptible. I couldn't see it at all looking down the bore so it might even still play if I work on it. It will need all new springs, pads and corks and fine tuning. It might be worth the time for the memories. The silver is nearly gone and the finish is pitted so it will never be again what it was. We lost so much in that fire. It is nice to have something that survived.
ruth@usa.net
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Author: Audita
Date: 2013-11-25 08:02
Ken, I should add the all the mechanisms work with the exception of some weak springs.
ruth@usa.net
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Author: MichaelW
Date: 2013-11-25 10:20
@modernicus:
„...French metal clarinet site”: http://www.clarinette-metal.fr/index.htm
...and use the search function for "Jim Lande" here in this Bboard. In the past he regularly published comprehensive auction statistics.
Among top quality metal clarinets Bettoney Silva Bet and H.N.White Silver King as far as I see are most frequently offered, in general very good players and certainly hold their value.
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