 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lande
Date: 2001-03-01 02:35
I did another survey of metal clarinet prices on eBay. Prices are about the same as last year. Volume is up. There were 116 Bb soprano metal clarinet auctions that closed in the month of February. Of these, 22 were missing the barrel or had serious damage; 82 were student models that looked to be repairable, and 12 were either better quality or collectible. The following averages are based on actual high bids. In many cases seller reserves were not met and in 5 cases, the same clarinet was listed a second time.
Many of the culls did not get a single bid. For the ones that got bids, the average price was $35.
There were 7 clarinets (including 4 made by Selmer) that were sold as professional quality instruments in their day. The prices ran from under a hundred for a Boston Wonder (which sold for $130 around 1930) to over $800 for one of the Selmers. There was also a Pedler Albert system. I don't know whether this was a student or intermediate model, but the metal Alberts are rare on eBay and the prices are always high for these. Five were intermediate quality or had some collectible feature, such as an adjustable barrel. The average final price for these 12 horns was $316. (And, since you ask, I did win a Selmer with full boehm keywork.)
Of the ones I think were ordinary student models, the average high bid was $65. The high bid was less than $50 in 27 auctions. The high bid was greater than $100 for 13 of the auctions with a Jules Reval topping the pile at $227. (I have never heard of that model and I suppose it might be something interesting or high quality. Mark C. Feel free to look this one up in the Langwell; I am also curious about Madelon, since these are common.) However, many of the horns for over a hundred were the same models as ones that were could be had for under $50.
The most common makers (allowing for the fact that there are many brands for which I do not know the real maker) were: Conn (15); Bettoney (14); H.N. White (7); Pedler (7); Selmer (4); Madelon (4); LeBlanc Noblet (4); and, Holton (4).
Case, mouthpiece, condition, quality of the pix, etc, probably made a difference in final price. The bottom line, however, is that you can get a fixable one for under $50 if you are willing to bide your time. BE SURE TO GET ONE WITH A BARREL.
If anyone is interested in checking them out, the auctions are listed below:
$809.00 1407318913 Henri Selmer Silver B Flat Soprano Clarinet
$515.06 1411102165 Selmer Metal Clarinet
$515.00 1407568769 Selmer Paris B-400 clarinet
$405.00 1411463179 Vintage All Silverplate Selmer Paris Clarinet
$370.00 1408208245 Clarinet Harry Pedler Metal B Flat (pro model)
$331.00 557125207 VINTAGE JEAN BUISSON SILVER CLARINET *albert)
$306.00 1410468848 Pedler polished nickle clarinet NICE (albert)
$227.50 1409954106 Unusual French Metal Clarinet
$212.00 551868786 Silva Bet Antique Clarinet H Bettony Boston (pro model)
$157.50 1410890008 CONN SILVER CLARINET (adj. barrel, but pro model?)
$152.50 1411303235 Vintage H N White Brass CLARINET with Case
$142.40 1407768204 WONDERFUL RARE VINTAGE PEDLER SILVER CLARINET
$125.00 552150939 Silver Clarinet P.X. LAUBE(cla)
$122.50 1410561137 JEAN MARBEAU PARIS~VINTAGE OBOE/CLARINET SILV
$120.00 1405896117 VERY Nice Silver BC Co. 'Cadet' Clarinet
$112.50 1410435276 OLD SILVER BANDMASTER CLARINET IN CASE
$103.50 1406813673 CLARINET Bb CAVALIER METAL ONE PIECE
$102.50 552978244 WONDERFUL VINTAGE CLARINET SILVER METAL N/R
$102.50 1410496996 PAT 1929 MADELON CLARINET b FLAT SILVER
$102.50 1410545327 Vintage Clarinet mkd France & England
$101.79 1410548641 VINTAGE SILVER CLARINET W/CASE MINT N/R
$101.79 1410006958 Silver Pan American Special Clarinet
$91.00 1410944468 ANTIQUE ORIGINAL ELKHART SILVER CLARINET OBOE
$88.01 1408899874 SILVER PEDLER CUSTOM BUILT CLARINET & CASE
$80.00 1408862213 VINTAGE 1920'S CLARINET CAVALIER & CASE NR
$80.00 1407075081 Excellent Metal Clarinet & Case NR
$79.79 1410902712 2~OLD~CONTINENTAL~&CAVALIER~CLARINETS~NR~
$76.00 1411020148 Silver Clarinet? Great shape! Elkhardt Pedler
$73.00 1211870536 Old Cavalier metal Clarinet!
$72.00 1410008643 Vintage H.N. White Co. Silver Finish Clarinet
$71.00 1411827910 VINTAGE ALL METAL CAVALIER CLARINET-NO RES
$71.00 1411028416 H.BETTONY CLARINET AND OTHER ITEMS
$71.00 1406589683 Cavalier Vintage Silver Clarinet
$70.00 1410117787 BEACON SILVER PLATED CLARINET WITH CASE
$68.00 1411193595 Antique H N White Metal Clarinet - Rare Find
$67.00 1410709718 ANTIQUE CLARINET - SILVER/ BRASS? - No RES!
$66.66 1407871811 Old Boston Wonder Clarinet in Case / NORES
$66.00 1410668346 Vintage Silver Plate Clarinet
$66.00 1410259351 SILVER CLARINET THE GLADIATOR Bb FLAT
$65.00 1410436528 Silver Clarinet H. Bettoney
$63.50 560381494 antique silver plate clarinet Frank Holton
$62.79 1409672881 Vintage Metal Clarinet 1940's Romain Braude
$62.00 1411112350 REGENT SILVER Bb CLARINET-NO RESERVE!
$61.00 1410111860 WONDERFUL VINTAGE MADELON SILVER CLARINET
$61.00 1410312388 Old Silver Plated Clarinet With Case ~PIC~
$60.00 1408821669 VINTAGE SILVER CLARINET BY NOBLET 1308 FRANCE
$59.00 552063531 CB CO CADET METAL CLARINET 1930'S
$58.51 1408784043 Great old Clarinet Inscribed Réne Loraine
$58.00 1410879087 VINTAGE CHROME & NICKLE CLARINET & CASE
$56.55 1408967688 Henri La Vella METAL Clarinet Made in USA NoR
$55.08 1409421721 VERY OLD RENE DUVAL CLARINET - ANTIQUE!
$55.00 556019127 Vintage Clarinet in Orig Case
$53.09 1408472252 NICE* Old Silver Clarinet & Case ~CHAUVET~
$53.01 1406302287 NOBLET METAL CLARINET/CORONET
$52.00 551373725 Vintage SILVER PLATED Regent CLARINET,1920
$52.00 1409389709 LEGIONNAIRE METAL NICKEL? PLATED CLARINET
$51.51 1408247893 OLD COLLEGIATE HOLTON CLARINET HORN w/CASE
$51.51 1409063946 VINTAGE CLARINET,SILVER/AMERICA CAPITAL DELUX
$51.02 1408097227 BEACON SILVER PLATED CLARINET WITH CASE
$51.00 1407176691 Old Silver Clarinet The Gladiator H.N.White
$51.00 1408892053 30's Cavalier Clarinet Silver Elkhart, In SEE
$51.00 1408818819 Old Silver Noblet Paris Metal Clarinet
$51.00 1410605072 Vintage Clarinet ? Superior Artist Saxaphone
$51.00 1409015309 OLD FRENCH METAL CLARINET WITH CASE
$51.00 1406867457 Noblet Silver Plated Clarinet With Case
$51.00 1408027606 Vintage Metal Clarinet "A.Fontaine Paris"
$51.00 1409277837 METAL B FLAT SOPRANO "SYMPHONY" CLARINET
$50.00 549814335 PAN AMERICAN SILVER (METAL) B FLAT CLARINET
$50.00 1408285113 ANTIQUE METAL CLARINET - LOOK!!!
$49.99 1409669242 Continental Colonial Metal Clarinet w/Case*NR
$49.65 558175790 ANTIQUE- FRENCH CLARINET - SILVER? - No RES!
$49.00 1408684716 Vintage Bruno Royal Artist Clarinet
$47.00 1410810774 Metal Clarinet
$46.45 1407827844 Antique, all metal Kohlert clarinet
$45.02 1407941938 H.Bettoney Columbia Model Clarinet NICE!
$44.01 1409908921 ALL AMERICAN MADE' SILVER PLATED CLARINET NR
$44.00 1409896027 ARGONAUT SILVER CLARINET Italian w/Case
$43.00 1410711135 ANTIQUE CLARINET - SILVER/ BRASS? - No RES!
$42.00 1411463642 No Reserve Silver King Metal Clarinet Project
$41.04 1406685660 Vintage Silvertone Clarinet
$41.01 556850337 Vintage SILVER PLATED Regent CLARINET,1920
$41.01 1408515148 NR Silver Holton Metal Clarinet Project
$41.00 1410690542 Vintage Silverplate Cadet Clarinet USA
$41.00 1410981810 VICTORY 1930'S SILVER CLARINET WITH CASE
$41.00 1410902945 Metal Clarinet in Bb
$41.00 1409866942 Italian Henri La Valle Silver CLARINET
$40.03 1407505370 Belvox Italy Metal Bb Clarinet
$40.00 1406857497 H. Bettoney 3-star vintage metal clarinet
$40.00 1407762317 Vintage Holton Collegiate Metal Clarinet
$40.00 1408689332 Old Clarinet Pedler Hoosier Elkhart Indiana
$36.00 560050339 3 STAR Clarinet all silver
$36.00 1407455941 CLARINET MADE IN ITALY SILVER PLATED
$36.00 1410831083 VERY OLD& NICE RENE DUVAL CLARINET - ANTIQUE!
$35.44 1410811181 Old Metal Clarinet -needs overhaul NSRV LOOK!
$35.05 557167011 Old Silverplated Clarinet in Hard Case
$34.35 1406264838 VINTAGE THREE STAR CUNDY-BETTONEY CLARINET
$34.00 1409182284 Metal Bb clarinet
$33.13 1407103381 Metal German Clarinet Project
$31.15 1409947513 OLd LEON ALBERT Clarinet ? DEPOSE FRANCE
$30.01 560173665 Early 1900's Silver Jonay Clarinet w/Case
$26.00 1409423955 OLD LAUBE CLARINET Bb.? WITH OLD CASE
$25.00 1411314410 Vintage Bettoney Silver Clarinet!!! NR
$25.00 1406455986 OLD CAVALIER CLARINET Elkhardt, Ind. U.S.A.
$24.60 1408817935 Old Silver Metal Clarinet for Parts or Decor
$20.99 1407727467 ANTIQUE RENE DUMONT METAL CLARINET
$15.00 1409583235 Vintage " PEDLER" Clarinet
$10.00 1411374443 OLD Instrument AMERICAN BEAUTY Clarinet ?
$9.50 1408309108 Vintage Gladiator Clarinet
no bid 1409215681 ANTIQUE CLARINET - SILVER/ BRASS? - No RES!
no bid 1410621751 Silver Plated Clarinet
no bid 1408208904 Clarinet
no bid 556171513 Early 1900's Silver Jonay Clarinet w/Case
no bid 1410686528 Silver Plated Clarinet W/Case
no bid 1406885147 ANTIQUE METAL CLARINET - LOOK!!!
no bid 1406336578 Old Clarinet Pedler Hoosier Elkhart Indiana
no bid 1407141747 ANTIQUE SILVER PLATED CAVALIER CLARINET
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Author: Willie
Date: 2001-03-01 03:17
Good job! I find this list interesting as I have some lightning rods and I'm also guilty of looking at the eBay ones. Last year on an old silver Elkhart, the bidding went out of control and went for I believe about $250. Never did figure out what was so special about that one other than there might have been a full moon.
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Author: Mike B.
Date: 2001-03-01 07:19
This info is really interesting. Thanks for taking the time to collect and post it.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-03-01 16:33
"Lightning Rods?????" FYI: I have an old gold lacquered, silver-colored key, Noblet metal Bb (#242) that plays quite well--although not "well'' enough to replace my "pro" instruments, but much nicer than I ever dreamed a metal pipe could blow. Bought it for $15.00 at our local Buy and Sell store and use it on outdoor gigs once in a while--it always attracts lots of attention (same as a clown suit, I suppose). Also, thanks for the listings--very interesting and well done.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-03-01 16:41
Keep in mind that the Noblet model is at least intermediate line. It doesn't belong in the same class as the tons of stuff produced as bottom line instruments.
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2001-03-01 17:17
I agree the list is very interesting and well done. Thanks. More than a year ago, there were also a Haynes double wall silver clarinet as well as a double wall silver Buffet which I did not know had ever been made. At the moment on eBay, there is a Conn double wall metal clarinet, #1412132249. This seems interesting as well.
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Author: lande
Date: 2001-03-01 18:17
I had two Noblets. The first had a serial number under1500 and had the logo on a raised, diamond shaped plateau of metal. This one played better than any student model I have tried. The second one had a serial number over 3500 and played like an average student horn. I have not seen any Leblanc/Noblet sales literature from the 1930s or 1940s but have no trouble believing that their metal clarinets were intermediate quality instruments in those years, since the Noblet line has generally has been good quality.
The Noblet was, to my knowledge, the last metal clarinet made (not counting those Turkish albert system instruments in the key of G). It was offered in the U.S through 1972. By 1968, however, it was the cheapest horn in the Leblanc catalog. So, I am prettty sure it was, by then, strictly a student offering.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2001-03-01 18:50
Look out in about three to four weeks. I've got a an old metal Bettoney full boehm that I'm getting ready to overhaul (between customer instruments...having a hard time fitting my own in.). It is an interesting piece engraved "Cyril Adams" on the bell. I don't think that was the model number but rather the original owner's name. I think it will turn out very nice.
John
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Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-03-02 14:54
I think the biggest problem with metal clarinets is that intonation (and to some extent response) problems are more difficult to correct than with wood, plastic, or hard rubber instruments, because it's not really feasible with the metal instruments to enlarge, re-shape, or relocate the toneholes (nor can one do much undercutting or chamfering). This is because the metal horns have tall, thin-walled chimneys for the toneholes rather than having the holes essentially embedded in a thick-walled main body as we are used to seeing. This severely limits (IMHO) a repairman's ability to improve the playing characteristics of the instrument --- thus we 'get what we get'.
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Author: Cat Nickelson
Date: 2001-03-03 02:31
I read the info that you posted and it does not mention anything about the Somco brand made in the U.S. I am a beginner and I don't know anything about the cast of the keys and such but if anyone knows anything about the time period and a little history it would be much appreciated.
Thanks
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Author: Terri Jacobs
Date: 2001-04-27 22:31
I'm finding the information on metal clarinets interesting.
I ran across a metal "Victory" in a local music shop and bought it for $40.00
It was sent out to a local repair shop with a request for a quote on refurbishment. They came back with the answer "it's not worth fixing". It is badly tarnished, but polishes up nicely, needs a new set of pads, new corks, and some spings. How do I go about finding a repair person willing to work on the non-standard?
Thanks for the input!
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Author: victory
Date: 2007-06-08 07:23
Hello,
Anybody have information on Victory metal clarinets? Years made? Quality?Country made etc... Help is appreciated
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-06-08 18:55
"How do I go about finding a repair person willing to work on the non-standard?"
Look in the mirror!
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-06-08 19:50
are you using a program to collect the metal clarinet information? are you watching every single clarinet?
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: donald
Date: 2007-06-08 22:04
what if you got a metal clarinet and put a Backun barrel on it? are the bells detachable, could you put a Backun bell on it? Hey, if you filled in all the holes you could use it as a yard glass....
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2007-06-09 02:21
Most metal clarinets have smaller diameter barrels and attachment points. It might be difficult, if not impossible to do. :o(
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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The Clarinet Pages
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