 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Riday
Date: 2012-05-13 21:52
I have a Penzel, Muller, Pruefer Albert system Eb? soprano clarinet that my grandfather gave to me about 25 years ago. He said that it was his father's, who was born in about 1880 and died in about 1949.
This instrument appears to be an Eb soprano, although the letter "E", with no flat after it, is stamped at the top of the bell joint. The serial #3470 is stamped on each joint. Beneath the Name insignia on the lower joint are the letters LP, with a capital E below the LP. I am about to have this clarinet repaired so that I can play it to see what key it is in!
I am assuming that this is an Albert system clarinet, although it is the only one I've actually ever seen up close and have played. My grandfather, who played professionally in the 1920's and 30's told me that it was.
This instrument is of particular interest to me because my Great Grandfather played in a Sousa concert on 8/20, 1912 in Delaware Water Gap, PA. I am 'hoping' that my grandfather's story about this being the instrument that his dad played in that concert is true! There will be a centennial band concert on 5/20 2012 in Delaware Water Gap , PA, commemorating that event, and I am expecting to play this instrument in that concert. ( I am a clarinet player) Can anyone trace that serial # to see if it predates 1912???
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Author: Mark P
Date: 2012-05-14 00:48
Far as I know, Penzel Mueller's serial number list is lost to history. Your clarinet is indeed an Eb in low pitch (which is a good thing). Many companies were making Albert clarinets well into the 1930's. You have a week till the concert, I hope your tech isn't too busy! You mention Pruefer as well, is that name one the clarinet or mouthpiece?
Mark
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Author: Bob Riday
Date: 2012-05-17 17:16
Thanks for your quick reply. The three names appear together in a Buffet-like oval with a spread eagle over the top of the oval on all four sections of the instrument. The mouthpiece that was with the clarinet when my grandfather gave it to me is glass (crystal?) and has no markings on it. I have a Charles Bay mouthpiece I expect to use for the concert (which isn't until August, in case I typoe'd the date.) And I'll get an adjustable barrel in case the pitch is really wild. I suspect that this clarinet is later than 1912; it will still be neat to play clarinet in a commerative Sousa concert that my great grandfather played clarinet in one hundred years ago!
Bob
The second name is definitely spelled 'Muller' on my instrument. It is possible that, due to the very small size of the insignia, it says Mueler, but there are definitely only six characters. Interesting.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2012-05-19 11:31
According to Langwill and a couple other sources, Pruefer was a VP with PM in the 1920s. Not as early as 1912. There are only six characters in "Muller" because there is an umlaut over the 'u'. Nowadays it is common to follow the quite common german practice and add an 'e' after the vowel hence we write "Mueller" - saves a special character and having to try to remember which odd shift-opt-alt-command combo is needed to find umlauted vowels. Yeah - I verbed it!
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