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Recognizing company from a serial number

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-02-01 04:29

Hi

Maybe someone would have an idea what is the company of this clarinet. It's strange that it doesn't say anywhere.

It has Made in France at the bottom of the upper joint. It was made at least 30 years ago I think. Only thing that might help is the serial number starts with a drawing of a star, followed by H266xx. The serial number is engraved at the top of the upper joint and the bottom of the lower joint. All engravings are at the back of the clarinet.

I guess the star might give a clue? From first impression it plays pretty nice, good tone.

Thanks

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Re: Recognizing company from a serial number

Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-02-01 12:02

Another clue: the shapes and contours of keys and tenon rings. Different companies have their own distinctive shapes. Comparing them can get tedious, but you might find there's something unique about your tenon bands, especially, that will tell you which company made that clarinet. Comparing the metal has helped me figure out who manufactured instruments branded with the names of the stores that sold them. For instance, some of the old Fishers were made by Buffet. Those can be fine clarinets, bargains, even though they're not worth much because they don't have the important brand name on them.

Old patents can help, too. For instance, one of my best alto saxes is a silver-plated "Weymann." Weymann was a big music store in Philadelphia. I found the Martin patent for the unusual octave key mechanism. The serial number would be 1928 if the sax were labelled Martin. That date squares with the details of the instrument. The mouthpiece sold with the sax is an old Martin mouthpiece. The generic case clearly dates from the 1920s as well. Ergo.... I bought that sax with the intention of selling it to a student who plays a Martin but could use a cheaper equivalent to carry on gigs where the more valuable instrument might be at risk, but I liked this sax so much that I couldn't stand to sell it.

Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.

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Re: Recognizing company from a serial number

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-02-01 12:18

Thanks, but I don't have any details of the metal. The clarinet is not here anymore. I had it only for a few minutes and those were all the details I wrote down.

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