 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2011-01-29 18:31
I have been offered a choice between two Kohlert metal Eb alto clarinets.
Both are from the Graslitz factory. One is engraved "Bohemia," is pre-1918. The other says "Czechoslovakia" so is post-1918.
Does anyone here have any idea if there'd be an appreciable difference in quality between the two?
Thanks!
Klarnetisto
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Author: Lee
Date: 2011-01-29 20:33
As I understand it Bohemia was a separate country for only a few years (maybe only two) around 1918. They came from the same factory so the differances should only represent normal evolution of quality.
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2011-01-31 15:37
I have seen more than one Bohemia marked Kohlert with decidedly 1930s style keywork. I suspect that this represents the sentements of the company during the Sudeten crisis of the late 1930s.
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2011-02-01 23:23
Thanks for your input! I decided to get the Bohemian alto, since it had complete keywork. The other had a couple of missing keys.
Klarnetisto
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-02-02 13:23
Smart choice, imho. The missing keys would have been a big problem on the other clarinet. Getting replacement keys for a clarinet that's no longer in production nearly always means having the new keys custom-made. That's expensive.
For other people out there asking "should I buy this or that?" questions, comparing the condition of the instruments is as important as comparing the brands.
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: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-02-02 23:25
Actually, Lelia, it's often not that hard to take a donor key from a junked instrument and adapt it to replace a missing key. Been there, done that.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2011-02-03 02:18
"Bohemia" would be the oldest Kohlerts. "Czecho-slovakia" would be Kohlerts made from the end of Bohemia to the beginning of WWII -- still fine instruments. "Czechoslovakia" would be post WWII and could be of questionable quality. Near the beginning of WWII, the Nazis moved the Kohlert factory into Germany in hopes of getting a source of income. Unfortunately, a significant portion of their tools did not make the trip with the technicians. The result was a rather poor quality instrument. After the war, many of the technicians scattered around the world (some back to Graslitz to try to rebuild what was left there, some to other parts of Europe, and some to the United States). Although they maintained no connection, a significant number of them continued to use the Kohlert name. The result was that the quality of Kohlerts became rather spotty. In general, if it is marked "Bohemia" or "Czecho-slovakia" there is a good probability that it will be a good instrument. With others, you are likely to be taking a chance. I have a Czecho-slovakia Kohlert that does a pretty good job of keeping up with my Selmers (Centered Tone, Series 9, and Series 10).
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2011-02-03 02:26
All of the pre-WWII Kohlerts I have seen have been marked only on the bell. With the exception of the Albert System, all of the Kohlerts currently on that auction site are post-WWII.
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