 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2011-12-26 22:53
I acquired an old Selmer CT of early '60s vintage, and having re-padded and regulated the instrument, I found an unusual stuffiness and resistance from low G to low E.
After triple-checking for leaks/tone hole nicks, I stuck a Buffet R13 barrel on the horn. That largely alleviated the stuffiness problem, though I haven't check the tuning with that bell yet.
What I found when examining the CT bell is that it's stamped with a Selmer U.S. logo rather than the Paris logo that is on the other parts of the clarinet. Looking around on the Web, I've found a few postings here and there indicating that other CT owners have the U.S. logo on the bells of their CTs too.
Does anyone know if the CTs of this vintage were sold with a non-Paris bell as a matter of course...and if so, why? I'm interested in selling the instrument, but I don't want to represent it as being "entirely CT" if the bell wasn't original to the set.
Thanks.
B.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-12-26 23:09
Attachment: Selmer CT Bell Logo.jpg (111k)
Technically an original Selmer CT bell from a clarinet originally sold in the US or Canadian markets may have both logos. It will have the Selmer Paris wreath logo and then just below that it will have the Selmer USA logo along with the words "sole agents US & Can.". Basically this just meant that Selmer USA was the only authorized importer of the Selmer Paris clarinets at that time. I have attached a photo for reference.
If you don't have a Selmer Paris logo on the bell then it is not an original bell. You will find Selmer CT bells without the additional Selmer USA logo but they will always have the Selmer Paris logo.
Post Edited (2011-12-26 23:09)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-12-26 23:20
Attachment: selmer_ct_804 001.JPG (790k)
Attachment: selmer ct r4430 001.JPG (775k)
Attached are photos of CTs with the standard bell stamping.
I had a CT with the export bell stamping and also have a matching set of 1967 Series 9*, both of which have the export bell stamp - although the previous owner had a spare bell for the A clarinet with just the logo on it hidden in his garage which he sent out to me after thinking that he'd sent me them with just the one bell. I'm not sure why the A had a spare bell made, but for some reason it did!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2011-12-26 23:26)
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2011-12-26 23:23
Yup, it's original, then. Thank you both for your help.
B.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-12-26 23:46
How much venting are you giving the largest pads? I usually set the lowest one to open around 3.5mm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2011-12-27 00:21
Chris,
The venting is generous on both the lower pads: I left it at about 4 mm until I get to the bottom of the resistance and stuffiness problem.
The largest increase in resistance occurs with all pads closed. I can't feel or see anything strange going on with the bell. Bore change on the lower joint, maybe?
B.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-12-27 00:32
There is a sudden narrowing of the bore where the lower joint tenon meets the bell bore, so maybe this could be the cause of it.
Do you set the E/B key pad so it closes with less pressure than the F/C pad? If this is reversed (with the F/C pad lighter than the E/B pad) this can cause resistance on the low E and upper register B.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2011-12-27 00:54
Chris,
About equal resistance. No problem with the B or any pitches above it.
Although B and low E won't tune properly, I check those notes and those around them without the bell attached on the off chance that I could feel something wacky going on at the end of the lower joint, but nothing. (Probably not a valid test, but what the heck.)
I wish I had the proper equipment to get dimension for the lower joint bore and bell, but I don't. There's no "step" at the bell, btw.
B.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2011-12-29 11:01
The bells of these wide bore Selmer clarinets are thin-walled and prone to develop cracks.
May be the bell is not original and is replaced by a bell of a later Selmer model. You should notice then also an increase in resistance in b1 and c2.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2011-12-30 03:42
In addition, the bell on my CT is considerably longer than the bell on my series 9 or 10.
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