 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-08-14 11:22
I was shown an interesting metal Selmer clarinet the other day that was kept stored away in the owner's attic.
It's a covered hole Albert system but neither a basic 13 key simple system nor a full 'Improved Albert System' but something in between.
It's stamped Sterling inside a diamond on the barrel socket and bell (but not on the body joints) and states it's made in France, though the keywork and sockets are typical Selmer Paris, so I think I'm safe in saying it's a stencil model made by Selmer Paris, but not sure if it's intended as a pro model or intermediate as it doesn't bear the Selmer Paris logo (similarly Selmer were making Adolphe Sax isntruments and Selmer Paris ones at the same time which were almost identical, but the Adolphe Sax ones had some less expensive parts). The serial number was only a four figure one (no prefix) and is in keeping with Selmer's numbering system.
I'll describe it from what I remember - silver plated nickel silver body without the microtuning barrel (has a locking screw on the socket) and the brass bell is soldered on. The middle socket also has a locking screw (but it's missing). The sides of the sockets have rounded ends to them and also the row of .............. lines around the circumference at around 7mm from both ends as Selmer still use on sax crook sockets. It has three side keys - Eb/Bb, F/C and a trill key, non-articulated G# key (going through the middle socket and tenon) and all the three lowest pads were on the same side as seen on Improved Albert Systems. Rollers on the Ab/Eb and F/C keys and also the LH E/B and F#/C# (although one of the LH rollers is missing). Speaker key is the normal type on the underside instead of a wrap-around one. The throat G# key has an adjusting screw on it.
Although it wasn't in fully playable condition when I tried it out, I could play down to low G (or upper register D) and was able to determine it was high pitch (452Hz) which is a shame as it would be far more desireable if it was 440Hz - playing C (xxx|ooo) and expecting concert Bb on my tuner, it read a slightly flat B natural (or an extremely sharp Bb) and all the other notes were consistently out by this margin. I compared a Selmer CT and that was bang smack in tune, so my trusty old Korg tuner wasn't giving false readings (and never has done).
If anyone has more info on the variety of metal clarinets made by Selmer, this will come in very useful if I can pinpoint it down to this specific type as I can relay it to the current owner.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2011-08-14 18:04)
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2011-08-28 01:22
I have some Selmer catalog pages from the early 30s. They show a variety of metal clarinets, including two alberts: a 15 key 3 ring with rolers and a 17 keys 6 rings rollers, full improved.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-08-29 23:45
Thanks for the links, but they don't shed any light on other brand names made by Selmer. I didn't know Selmer made stencil instruments or didn't put their own name on their own instruments (apart from the Adolphe saxes they made).
Sterling was a model name used by Selmer London on imported instruments to fill a gap in the lineup (other Selmer London instruments were Console and Gold Seal) and were either Malernes or other French, Italian, Czechoslovakian or Chinese instruments with the Selmer Paris ones being at the top.
What I can see is the thumbrest on this one is the same as the metal Selmer in the photos on the first site (the clariboles one) in that it's a large, elongated S-shaped piece of sheet metal to add depth.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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