 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill G
Date: 2011-11-02 02:29
In a recent posting on another thread Bob Bernardo mentioned Ted's Music Store, formerly near the Peobody campus. His reference made me recall a visit there a number of years ago. My daughter mentioned that she had visited an unusual music store in Baltimre, and sometime later I was in Baltimore and found the store. It was unusual. A number of antique and weird instruments were suspended from the ceiling by wires.Of particular interest to me were a couple of instruments that looked like wooden soprano saxophones. I learned later that they were Tarogatos, which until then were completely unknown to me. Ted wouldn't talk to me when I asked if any of those instruments were for sale.
Several years later I was in Baltimore and went to the store again to refresh my memory. I found that Ted had died, but his wife survived and a friend was liquidating the stock on her behalf. That friend was more cordial and I learned that the Tarogatos and most of the instruments had been sold. He told me that Ted was quite eccentric, and related to me some of his background. He related that on one occasion a visitor inquired about buying a neck for a saxophone, and Ted ended up selling the man all of the necks from his stock of new saxophones, leaving them completely unmarketable for a time.
The friend told me other stories which I have now forgotten, and I have often wished that I had learned (and remembered) more about Ted.
Do any of you have any interesting stories about Ted and his store that you would like to share?
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Author: davyd
Date: 2011-11-02 04:26
I bought reeds for my C melody saxophone there; no other store in town carried them. I recall seeing the tarogatos & being told that they were not in playable condition (hanging from the ceiling couldn't have been good for them).
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-11-03 02:29
I never saw so much "Stuff," perhaps "Junk," at a music store! Ted actually lived upstairs of his store. His store had 2 or 3 levels, I think, maybe 4, can't remember for sure. Well we were buddies, Ted, to the point that he would let me go up to the different levels. One day I found a huge bucket of clarinet mouthpieces. I made an offer to him and he said OK. Well in that bucket were 2 chedevilles! I paid about $50 or so for the bucket and because of liking math I figured out the price per mouthpiece was about $3.
Although we were buddies, I didn't tell him about the Cheds! I probably bought 500 or more boxes of reeds from him during those Peabody years!
Crazy place, fun times!
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2011-11-03 02:33)
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Author: Bill G
Date: 2011-11-03 03:53
Bob's comments are refreshing me recollections. When I wen to Ted's the second time, Ted's friend let me go upstairs and brouse for a bell and a barrel which I needed for and Albert system clarinet which was in need. The upstairs was quite a sight. My impression was that the store must have been in existence for many years. Seems to me that the friend told me that Ted was the son of an instrument manufacturer in the "Old Country", who came to the States at a young age, married a violinst in the Baltimore Symphony who also taught for a time at Peabody. I believe that I was told that Ted's widow, who was aged and infirm, still lived in one of the upper stories.
Words don't come to me which would adequately describe the impression of the store. Thanks, Bob, for helping to paint the picture.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-11-04 04:52
Teds wife was named Evelina (sp) and played violin in the BSO my first years. She may have taught at the Peabody Prep but I don't believe she ever taught in the conservatory. He's brother also played violin with us for several years. I never did much business with Ted because he never stocked anything that professional would buy but he did rent instruments for students and sell basics like reeds or swabs but mostly student stuff back then. He may have sold Vandoren's but charged too much for them when we bought them in large numbers. I used to buy my reeds in NY or through mail order. There used to be several "better" music stores back in the 60s and 70s in downtown Baltimore but they all went out of business but somehow his store still seems to survive. Ted's is the only music store in "downtown" Baltimore now. I haven't been in the store for some time now but I think I did buy a pack of mouthpiece teeth patches a few years ago when I was still teaching at Peabody. It's right across the street next to the Yacht Club, a bar and restaurant that makes the best wings I've ever had. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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