 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kontra
Date: 2011-06-02 22:21
Attachment: mysteryclarinet.jpg (130k)
Attachment: mysteryclarinet2.jpg (140k)
Attachment: mysteryclarinet3.jpg (128k)
Attachment: mysteryclarinet4.jpg (84k)
Bought a clarinet today and the person I bought it from threw in this no-name plastic clarinet for free in the deal. It plays decently, I'll probably just use it for a back up horn in marching band, but me being extremely curious I want to know what brand it is. I suspect a Vito. For now it will be known as LeBlank.
Post Edited (2011-06-02 22:22)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-06-02 22:32
The keywork (especially the trill keys) suggests some Leblanc heritage indeed.
--
Ben
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2011-06-02 22:47
LeBlank...heh.
Looks like an old Vito or (identical) Holton to me. It's possible that the model number is located above or below the serial number.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-06-03 13:26
I've never heard of any of those brands being made without any company logo. It's possible that the manufacturer's brand name has been completely erased by some cleaning proces, but that would be extremely unusual, especially since you did find a serial number. (Why would the serial number still be legible if the much larger company symbol got totally rubbed out?)
If you can't find any trace of an old logo at all, then I suspect the clarinet is a marriage of at least two different instruments whose manufacturers put their brand names in different places. The parts you've got could just happen to be the ones that don't have the company brand names on them. Although your photos are excellent, they're aimed at the lever-touches and I can't see all the metal tenon bands clearly enough to be sure; but I think I see slight differences between those bands. Look at those carefully and see whether the contours look exactly alike to you.
Also, if both the upoper and lower sections are from the same instrument, then the upper contours of the key-cups also should be identical throughout. Some key-cups are almost flat across their tops while others have a cone or dome shape where the top of the cup joins the lever.
Look at colors in very bright light, too. There are a lot of different shades of black. Are all those sections exactly the same blackness and the same degree of shininess? What about the metal? Compare in places where there's no obvious wear. All the same shade of silver?
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2011-06-03 13:27)
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2011-06-03 14:46
Student level Conn by the trill keys.
Don't know if Conn actually made all their student clarinets. Lack of their logo may mean this horn was sold by the original manufacturer.
Clark G. Sherwood
Post Edited (2011-06-03 14:50)
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Author: Kontra
Date: 2011-06-04 16:58
The clarinet looks pretty much the same on both the upper and lower stacks to me, as far as the shade of the black or the shine on the plastic. It may be two clarinets, but the top part is definitely a Conn, after seeing some close up pictures of Conns.
Well, I got it for free so I'm not really complaining. Anyone know if it is a vintage Conn or a modern day Conn?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-06-04 18:44
Looks like it's probably from the '60s, so of a vintage of sorts but not proper vintage as in 1920s.
But don't let that deter you as it's still a good back-up instrument that'll be well suited for outdoor playing.
Here we go - while still typing this I just looked up your serial number (J01611) which places it at 1966!
http://www.conn-selmer.com/content/resources/serialno.php
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2011-06-04 18:47)
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Author: Kontra
Date: 2011-06-07 03:35
Thanks Chris! And thanks to everyone who helped me identify this horn. It's only more satisfying that I got this clarinet from someone who marched it in our band's rival marching band. Now it's marching for the right side. >:)
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