 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2010-04-03 02:48
I recently aquired one of these clarinets. It's in excellent condition except for a damaged A key. Looks as though somebody took a chop at it with a serrated edge tool like a saw. I'm not sure that the key cup is repairable, and I'd like to get it back to playable condition. This maker has long been extinct, so I'm not sure where to go to for replacement parts. Can anybody suggest a source?
Tony F.
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2010-04-03 03:22
Tony ; Two ideas come to mind: (a) find another just like it on 'the auction site', could take a year or two, but a 'rode hard' example might go cheap. (b) the keys on these were high quality german (or nickel) silver. Jeweler's silver solder (really brazing wire) can be used to build up the damaged areas, then sanded and buffed to a nice invisible repair with patience. A cup can also be swiped from another 'parts clarinet's key, and soldered to your key arm.
Also, any 'old timer' repairman in your area is likely to have a lot of extra keys lying around, but any of them would likely need some alteration to fit. Good Luck !!
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2010-04-09 09:41
As a follow up, I took the clarinet to a friend who is a hobby jeweller and silversmith. He measured up a good pad cup, and using an old silver coin (British silver 3 penny piece) he made a pad cup from scratch which is indistinguishable from the original. He silver-soldered it in place, I put a pad in it and the clarinet now plays and looks as good as the day it was made. It took him about half an hour and cost me a good bottle of red wine.
Apart from this job, I cleaned it up and replaced half a dozen pads. The barrel was non-original and played flat, but I had a old Boosey and Hawkes short barrel which fits perfectly and plays in tune. The original mouthpiece was also damaged, but I had an old hard rubber Selmer C85/115 which works well. I now have a clarinet that is a pleasure to play.
Tony F.
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2010-04-09 16:08
Way to go, Tony!!
I've restored one Jerome Thibouville Lamy thats probably similar to yours, and a Thib. Freres 'Concert' model has been quietly pleading for a repad. These old Thibs were probably pro-level clarinets in their day, with beautiful keywork (you can't hide rough sanding and poor castings when they're unplated!). In the hands of a good player, they can still hold their own against say, most modern 'intermediate-level' horns.
I too have found use for those B&H 'short' barrels. Might be a little slack on that thing they call embrochure (sp?) Hope you watched your friend while he silver soldered, as its not that difficult. There must be hundreds of silversoldered joinings on the average older clarinet, now those guys could solder!!, doesn't even look like they had to sand or file anything! Enjoy
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: Cindyr
Date: 2010-04-10 22:44
Enjoy your JTL, Tony. I have two: an A and B set, Albert System, high pitch. These clarinets were truly well made.
Post Edited (2010-04-10 22:48)
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