 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: carbines
Date: 2012-06-22 16:40
I just located a Saxonette by Supertone in nice condition and am wondering if
anyone has any idea what these are worth. Thank you for any information.
Wayne
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-06-22 22:15
carbines wrote:
> I just located a Saxonette by Supertone in nice condition and
> am wondering if
> anyone has any idea what these are worth. Thank you for any
> information.
> Wayne
"Supertone" was a stencil name used for instruments sold by Sears & Roebuck. Typically they were made by one of the larger American makers, most likely Buescher in this case as I have only heard of Buescher making saxonettes. There is a picture of one about 2/3 of the way down the following page that you may compare to yours. http://www.chakmol.com/bry/clarinet.html
I'll assume that you are referring to the one that sold on ebay last week. If that is the case then you have an instrument made with the Albert key system. I can't say for certain without measurements but I believe it is in the key of C based on the close spacing of the tone holes on the upper joint (compared to an Albert system Bb clarinet I own). The condition appears to be fairly decent. I don't notice any damage but it clearly needs an overhaul (pads look very old and some appear to be torn). The keys and post will also need to be polished (they look to be solid nickel-silver so no worries about plating wear).
Honestly the value is probably what you paid for it. They come up for sale very rarely so it's tough to really determine a value. Anyone who wanted it was probably bidding against you in the auction so I wouldn't expect to sell it for much more than you paid for it. Getting it overhauled and cleaned up will increase it's value but probably not by enough to justify the cost of doing so.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-06-22 22:49
I played one at Charlie Ponte's shop many years ago. It was dreadful.
Ken Shaw
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-06-23 00:26
Ken Shaw wrote:
> I played one at Charlie Ponte's shop many years ago. It was
> dreadful.
>
Probably one of the reasons they never caught on. I have seen aftermarket bells and barrels on a few occasions that could be used to convert an ordinary clarinet into a saxonette but these are also rare. More of a novelty than anything else in my opinion.
Still it seems that some people are still thinking about the idea. Brad Behn is now offering his line of "bent" mouthpieces that more or less accomplishes the same goal as the bent barrel on the saxonette.
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2014-05-22 14:44
it's a Buescher stencil? made in 1918-21 time frame
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxonette
here a couple pics:
http://www.trocadero.com/allinsts/items/862025/en1.html
http://www.trocadero.com/allinsts/items/862025/en2.html
more pics (Gretsch):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mlf/sets/1055018/
Post Edited (2014-05-22 14:47)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2014-05-23 00:46
Yes, I own a Buescher metal Boehm system clarinet with a curved top end and an upturned bell similar to that in the referenced site. It plays well in A440 tuning and sounds fine, but I do not use it in public. An offer of $1500 was made for it about ten years ago, but I did not accept it, as I do not know it's value. If I often played with a Dixieland band, I probably would use it. My heirs can keep it or sell it. I'm also from ND.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-05-23 06:57
This instrument was made by both Buescher and Gretsch. Gretsch called theirs the Saxonette and registered the name, so when Buescher made one they called it the Clariphone. I think Selmer also made a limited number of them, but I'm not sure about that. Alphonse Picou played one, not sure which maker, and can be found on Youtube playing it.
Tony F.
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2014-05-24 23:29
@tony
thnx for interesting piece of history!
Was Gretsch actually in business of woodwind making? All Gretsch saxes I've seen are stencils; some of them Bueschers(?) some Couturiers..
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-05-25 04:55
See
http://www.clarinetpages.net/vintage-odd-brands/gretsch-commander
I think Gretsch were mostly an importer. Supposedly most of their woodwinds were made by Leblanc, but they also seem to have sourced instruments from Couesnon and other makers. I've seen 2 Gretsch clarinets, a wood Commander and a metal Pathfinder. I'm fairly sure the Commander was a Couesnon, no idea what the Pathfinder was.
Tony F.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2014-05-27 11:06
There was a "Buescher Albert System Clarinet with Clara Bell Attachment" up for auction, dated November 26, 2012 on the auction site. The seller, identified as "drricknyc" listed a price of $4,500.00 for it, but it may not have sold. It had a wood or composition body with a bell like the one I own. Shipping was to be free.
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