 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: oldbackwoodsbob
Date: 2011-03-08 22:03
I recently aquired a Pruefer B flat clarinet serial number 51998. It appears to be hard plastic. The instrument seems to be better quality than the typical "student" models and has a metal sleeved upper joint. There are no markings that would indicate it to be the "Silver Throat." It has a very strong sound and using a B45 mouthpiece and can easily play all notes, even after not having played regularly in many years. Can anyone tell me anything about the age and any other information about this type instrument.
Thanks, Bob
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2011-03-09 00:35
There are several threads on the Pruefer clarinets in the archives. Click on 'Search' and type in Pruefer and/or Silver Throat. Going on memory only, the U.S. factory burned around 1970, wasn't rebuilt.
I like the early models around ser.# 20,000 with the unplated german silver keys, but thats just me. Yours is probably nickel plated german silver, and is probably hard rubber, not 'plastic'. They are well made, comparable to French 'intermediate-level' horns IMHO. Many were sold by Sears (Silvertone), and Montgomery Ward (Sherwood brand) . Most of mine are grenadilla, but the identical 'hard rubber' versions play every bit as well.
Enjoy!!
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-03-09 13:34
>> It appears to be hard plastic. The instrument seems to be better quality than the typical "student" models and has a metal sleeved upper joint. >>
I agree with Clark Sherwood that the clarinet is probably made of hard rubber, not plastic. The metal sleeve in the upper joint is the clue. Pick an inconspicuous place on the clarinet (in case what you do changes the aged color a bit), rub the "plastic" hard and fast with a warm, damp finger and then sniff it. The smell of rubber will probably be obvious if that's what you've got. Preufer and other manufacturers put that metal sleeve inside the upper joint to prevent the joint from going banana-shaped over time.
If it's rubber, be careful never to drop it on a hard surface. Old hard rubber shatters easily. Also, don't plan to play it outdoors in the sun, in a football band, for instance, because heat and sunlight can warp the clarinet despite the metal sleeve. Even the shapes of the tone holes can distort. The rubber can also turn greenish on the side exposed to the sun for a few hours. I see a lot of hard rubber clarinets exposed to sun in open cases at outdoor summer flea markets. Most of these flea market rubber clarinets are Humpty-Dumpties. Once they warp, they'll never play in tune again. On the worst of these, I've seen posts migrated slightly out of position and even keys sunk right into what ought to be the surfaces of the tone holes.
Some of the better hard rubber clarinets play well if they're in good condition, so I don't want to discourage you. You may have a good player there.
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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