 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: salzo
Date: 2010-08-16 19:20
I was wondering when they stopped making metal clarinets.
Also, I am wondering about a particular metal clarinet called "the virginian"-wondering when those instruments were made in particular, but very curious as to when metal clarinets went extinct.
THnks for any help.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2010-08-16 21:52
Maybe somewhere around 1929 in USA.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-08-17 11:48
Manufaturers' catalogues list metal clarinets for sale throughout the 1930s. Some manufacturers discontinued them earlier than others. Selmer's 1931 and 1932 catalogues offer metal Bundy clarinets but the 1935 catalogue does not. The 1932 Holton catalogue offers the Holton Collegiate (Boehm, 17 keys, 6 rings) in metal and strongly touts the all-metal clarinet as superior to wooden clarinets. The 1935 C. G. Conn catalogue lists a Pan American (student) Bb metal clarinet, 17 keys, 6 rings, model no. 72-N. The H. Bettoney sales flyer, with prices listed as effective as of June 1, 1937, offers the Silva-Bet, Columbia and Cadet models in metal, with several keywork options for each. A 1938 Gebrüder Mönnig catalogue from Germany lists two metal Deutsche Griffweise metal clarinets, a choice of Albert system, model 2530, or Böhm system, model 263.
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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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-08-17 12:11
Hanson still makes a metal clarinet. Titanium. You have to custom order it though.
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Author: ddavani
Date: 2010-08-17 21:13
From what I know, there aren't many metal clarinets in production. However, the NYC school system had tons of great metal clarinets which are great for marching and they just got rid of them recently. Not to say that they destroyed them; the NYC public school metal clarinets can be found on places like ebay for about $5-6 (great deal!!!).
-Dave Davani
http://allclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2010-08-18 00:42
Metal clarinets were declining in market share during the 30's and 40's, but many think the 'Last Straw' was WW2, as companies switched to war material production. After the war, there was little incentive to 're-tool' for metal clarinets, as a few French makers like Noblet filled the demand into the 50's. Few to none were made after 1958 or therabouts.
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2010-08-18 07:33
Quote >The old Conn metal clarinets were pretty good, but the ultimate in metal clarinets has got to be a full Boehm Selmer (Paris) - definitely keep your eyes peeled for one of these.
And they do come up - my pair came from an on-line auction (no prizes for guessing which one)
Chris
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-18 12:27
That looks like the standard Selmer double case from the '70s or '80s
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: justme
Date: 2010-08-18 13:37
Chris P:-,
Don't you have a SILVA-BET?
Those SILVA-BETs are great!
Justme
"A critic is like a eunuch: he knows exactly how it ought to be done."
CLARINET, n.
An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments that are worse than a clarinet -- two clarinets
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-18 13:50
Never managed to bag a Silva-Bet (nor a metal Selmer for that matter), but as a fan of older Selmers I can only assume they're every bit as good as their wooden counterparts (but without the worry of them splitting).
Did they ever make Silva-Bets with full Boehm keywork?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2010-08-18 16:42
sfalexi wrote: "Hanson still makes a metal clarinet. Titanium. You have to custom order it though."
None for sale really...they just have one which they take around to shows, sales meets etc.
Clarinet Redux
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Author: justme
Date: 2010-08-18 17:00
Chris P said: " Did they ever make Silva-Bets with full Boehm keywork?"
Chris, this is a type of question that I should be asking you.
I have no idea. I only know that the ones that I've heard have always sounded good to me!
I know that they have adjustable tuning rings on the barrel and some extra
articulated keys.
Here's a good picture of one (there are some close ups of differerent sections on this page as well,) notice the engraving all over the instrument, it's a work of art:
http://www.kylecoughlin.com/MetalClarinetPages/SilvaBetSilverClarinet.html
Justme
"A critic is like a eunuch: he knows exactly how it ought to be done."
CLARINET, n.
An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments that are worse than a clarinet -- two clarinets
Post Edited (2010-08-18 17:02)
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Author: justme
Date: 2010-08-18 18:01
Old Geezer:-,
According to the Hanson web site, the Titanium Clarinets are for sale.
They start at 4199 English Pounds.
It also lists Pallidium finish keywork as being standard on the T7 Titan models under the Optional extras at the bottom of the page.
If they don't sell them, then why would they list the price and options?
Here's the page:
http://www.hansonclarinets.com/Hanson_Clarinet_Company._Making_Music_in_Great_Britain./T_series_prices_and_features.html
Scroll down to the bottom of the T7 clarinets.
Justme
"A critic is like a eunuch: he knows exactly how it ought to be done."
CLARINET, n.
An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments that are worse than a clarinet -- two clarinets
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-18 18:12
The Silva-Bet pictured has the forked Eb/Bb mechanism and articulated C#/G# - so that's good to know!
The Silver King clarinets had the articulated C#/G# as well.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: spage
Date: 2010-08-19 14:05
Chris P wrote (nor a metal Selmer for that matter), but as a fan of older Selmers I can only assume they're every bit as good as their wooden counterparts (but without the worry of them splitting).
I'll bet Chris J's are worth hearing. I have a somewhat battered 1920s metal Selmer (not, unfortunately, one with the ridged tuning barrel) and can only say that, even in its existing waif-and-stray mode it really sounds remarkably good, with a full tone. To my ears and fingers it certainly feels and sounds like a Selmer :-)
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2010-08-25 02:29
"Did they ever make Silva-Bets with full Boehm keywork?"
Indeed they did. I have two full-boehm Bb Silva-Bets of the one-piece body type. If I remember right, I saw an A/Bb pair at the auction site about five years ago. I don't know if full-boehm keywork was available on the two-piece body Silva-Bets.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-08-25 15:04
>>I don't know if full-boehm keywork was available on the two-piece body Silva-Bets.
>>
I don't know, but an oddity about my full-Boehm B-flat Silva-Bet suggests that answer may be yes. This clarinet has a one-piece body, but the keywork includes a two-part bridge-key, where the joint would be between the upper and lower section! (I have another B-flat Silva-Bet that's not full-Boehm. It also has a one-piece body, with no bridge-key.)
Another oddity on my full-Boehm Silva-Bet: the lower key stack has resonator pads, attached with flat-headed screws. The resonator is a small metal circlet, like a washer. I've never seen resonator pads on another clarinet. I think the original white kid pads are flute pads.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2010-08-25 15:08)
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2010-08-26 21:35
Resonators were standard on the bottom pads (Eb and below) on Silva-Bets. They're only lacking if someone had them removed at some point.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-26 21:47
So if anyone says the Buffet Elite was the first production clarinet to have resonators in the bottom four pad cups, tell them someone else got there first.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2010-08-26 22:07
Quote Lelia "Another oddity on my full-Boehm Silva-Bet: the lower key stack has resonator pads, attached with flat-headed screws. The resonator is a small metal circlet, like a washer. I've never seen resonator pads on another clarinet."
My Leblanc Opus came with screws and washers on the lower 4 pads, just as Lelia describes hers
Chris
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2010-08-26 22:15
Ha, Chris P - you posted while I was off photographing!
When did the Buffet Elite start production?
Chris (J)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-26 22:26
1988 I think - before the Opus which was around 1995.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2010-08-26 22:27)
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