The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jan Chodec
Date: 2009-03-04 02:04
Attachment: Lafleur Clarinet.jpg (12k)
Hi
Some years ago, I noticed an oddly-shaped but very nicely made leather case in a trash and treasure market in Birmingham, UK. Inside was a small clarinet, only 46cm long from tip of mouthpiece to the end of the bell, all made of a very dark reddish wood, with "Lafleur" stamped just above and on the bell. The photo shows that it is a very simple system, and I have trouble finding some notes. The joints were sealed with black cotton in some sort of resin, rather than cork. It came with an undated price list for reeds etc, from a Manchester company called J.G. Birkhead, of 52 Hyde Road, West Gorton. Birkhead clarinets were priced at five guineas each, with reeds from one shilling a dozen. Clip-on moustaches were also available for two pence each. Maybe that's what I need to get that "perfect" tone out of it.
I would be very grateful for any information about this instrument.
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Author: Jan Chodec
Date: 2009-03-04 04:13
Kalakos wrote:
> Try this site for some fingering help for the
> Albert/Simple/Oehler system.
> John
>
> http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/ocl_bas_2.html
>
Hi John
Many thanks for that link. I'll try the fingering - there are clearly a few notes that I have not worked out by trial and error. It's such a lovely little instrument that, even though I'm no great musician, I would like to make it live again. There don't seem to be any significant cracks or gaps anywhere, and I've re-padded and corked it where it needed it.
Cheers
John
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