 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: #broken_wind
Date: 2009-03-21 11:49
Hi Folks,
I'm hoping someone might be able to help me find a few details about a clarinet I've recently acquired. It's a Bb wooden body plateaux model with markings "console" in a handwritten style and France stamped on the top joint. There is no serial number i can find andwhere. The keywork is bare nickel silver and the cups seem to be stamped from sheet rather than turned.
I bought it as an interesting project repair but I'd be grateful for any light that anyone can shed. My only knowledge of the name console relating to clarinets is the more modern selmer console models but this one shows no signs of any relation to selmer (other than a selmer ligature also in bare nickel silver but I assume thats not original)
Thanks
Post Edited (2009-03-21 11:50)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-21 12:01
These were made by Malerne and made for countless companies.
There was an elderly doctor on 2nd tenor in the first big band I played in, and he had a 'Buisson' one of these plateaux clarinets (and played a Selmer 'Adolphe' tenor). He was also the first player I knew of to have a handmade rosewood barrel!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: #broken_wind
Date: 2009-03-21 12:15
Oh ok thats good to know, any idea what years they were made? Obv the lack of serial number will mean its a bit vague but a rough idea would be nice
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-21 12:37
As a rough guess I'd say probably between the mid '50s to the mid '60s.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-03-21 13:05
I've observed that Noblet put France or Made in France on their U J's, prob. many more ?small? makers also [when FR was a sales inducer, late 40's to ?'60's] . I believe that Leblanc [Normandy/Noblet] were the major "plateau" makers, I have a couple, so if you can put up a pic, I'd compare. I've promised one to Debbi Reeves at USD's Music Museum, have been hoping to re-visit, Debbi, so she might have done some research on these. Does yours play at all well? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: #broken_wind
Date: 2009-03-21 13:14
I'll have to get back to you on the playing front, it only had half a set of pads in it when I bought it. Currently on my bench getting a good oiling and cleaning. I'll put some pads in it early next week barring any other problems (I've only spotted one so far, one of the bottom joint tone holes is chipped BADLY so might have to look at rebuilding or replacing)
Anyone have any reccomendation as regards padding? I'd thought about putting cork pads under the plateau keys to try and counter the inherent "stuffiness" but I'll take on board any advice you folks might have regarding skin/ leather/ cork or any combination therof (I'm quite a fan of corking top joints and putting leather on the bottom but then I'm no clarinet player so I may be just trying to mimic the feel of a sax!)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2009-03-23 16:10
I have clarinets with the plateau keys padded in different materials. A possibly Kielwerth with cork, a new Noblet 45 with skin and a Malerne with leather pads - all play brightly without stuffiness when the setup is good - mouthpiece, reed etc. but the cork plays the brightest especially in the upper and altissimo registers.
But I've had a really stuffy Normandy plateau padded in skin. I also had a nice plateau Noblet Artist I repadded in leather that I always found stuffy but my tech liked so much she bought it - but then she could probably get a good sound from anything!
My favourite though is my Malerne plateau with leather pads - has a nice mellow woody tone - the tone is indistinguishable from a regular ring key clarinet.
Some pictures of the "console" would be great.
Good luck with the restoration.
Malcolm
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-23 16:32
Make sure there's plenty of venting on the main action, so aim for somewhere around 3mm in the RH fingerplates (and regulate the LH accordingly).
If the F# (thumb off, xoo|ooo) is stuffy, shorten the thumb plate foot (file the end down by a few millimetres and reshape the top side with a curve on the end, then burnish it up to a bright shine) to give the thumb pad more venting. You'll then have to bend the thumb pad cup up to increase the venting.
More often than not on plateaux models, they'll use the same key foot piece on the thumbplate as the standard thumb ring. That doesn't matter with the thumb ring as that doesn't need to have much movement (it only closes the G vent/LH1 ring), but the venting is too low with the standard length key foot once they fit a plateau key to cover the thumb tube. Shortening the thumbplate foot will give the thumbplate pad more travel, but won't alter the venting of the G vent.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: #broken_wind
Date: 2009-03-23 18:17
Thanks for all the input guys, really great.
I got the tone-hole replaced today so there's nothing stopping me padding it. As I don't have any leather pads in at the moment I'm going to put some skin pads in and see how it plays first of all. If I get on with it then I'll look at upgrading the pads accordingly as I'm fairly sure there will be some experimentation involved in this one!
Malcolm - As for pictures I think it may well be identical to your malerne in most respects. I'll get some pictures taken as soon as its back in one piece but I'd be really interested to see any pics you might have of your malerne... see if mine is one of the rebadged malerne models, would this be possible?
thanks all
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2009-03-26 17:40
Attachment: DSCN4223.JPG (360k)
Attachment: DSCN4234.JPG (312k)
Attachment: DSCN4235.JPG (376k)
Attachment: DSCN4232.JPG (268k)
Hi some pictures of my Malerne. Looks very battered and old in these - it's just the lighting! Possible serial number 5 hand scratched on upper joint.
(I'll try and send pictures of the plateau mechanism but having problems with uploading just now)
Hope this helps,
Malcolm
Post Edited (2009-03-26 17:43)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mr Plum
Date: 2012-07-12 14:20
I came across your post on a blog while I was in the process of searching for info’ about the clarinet I’ve been playing for years. I think you had the same but your post dates to 2009. I’ve attached a photo. I played this clarinet in a UK jazz band during the 80’s and have continued to play it from time to time since. It’s still playable (just) but greatly in need of love and attention. You may see the elastic bands replacing broken springs etc. It really needs re-padding but, since it’s not standard, I have no idea where to look for the pads. I’m not an instrument specialist but I am quite handy. Would you know where I might obtain pads, springs etc. What was your experience with the renovation? I’d hate to throw it away since, like a difficult child, I’ve come to be very fond of it!
It was supplied by Martins Handcraft Instruments Ltd, Moor St. London but made in France (no idea which maker)
Any help would be appreciated.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
