 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Timmy7930
Date: 2013-01-01 18:36
I'm totally confused on this subject. I know most of these clarinets are from the early 1900's but I don't know which companies were good. For example there's silver king, peddler, conn but I don't know which is best so any advice will be great.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-01 19:17
Add Selmer (Paris) to the list - they built metal A, Bb and Eb clarinets in a variety of key systems from Albert/simple through to full Boehm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Eric V
Date: 2013-01-01 20:02
www.silver-clarinet.com has all the info you are looking for.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2013-01-01 23:26
Hey, take it easy on your calendar. Metal clarinets were the only thing available for rental when I started playing in the 1950s. :^)
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-01-03 05:36
Timmy7930 wrote:
> I'm totally confused on this subject. I know most of these
> clarinets are from the early 1900's but I don't know which
> companies were good. For example there's silver king, peddler,
> conn but I don't know which is best so any advice will be
> great.
As you are no doubt aware the vast majority of metal clarinets were made as student-level instruments. There are literally hundreds of student models out there and in my opinion they are not really worth owning unless you just want one as a novelty to sit on a shelf an look pretty.
There were a handful of intermediate models made and in my experience these can often be decent playing instruments (comparable to modern student and lower-intermediate clarinets). They can be a good deal if you want an instrument to play for a reasonable price. There are 3 intermediate models that you are most likely to encounter; the HN White "Cleveland", the H. Bettoney "Columbia", and various H. Bettoney military clarinets that will have the name of a military branch engraved on the bell. There are a few other intermediate models as well but they don't show up for sale nearly as often.
As far as professional models go the most common ones are the H. Bettoney Silva-Bet, the HN White Silver King, the CG Conn 524N, and the CG Conn 514N. Selmer Paris metal clarinets will also come up for sale fairly regularly but not quite as often. Any of these can be good playing instruments and are worth buying if you can find them in good condition at a reasonable price.
After these more common professional models there a a few very rare professional models worth mentioning. These would be the Penzel-Mueller Clari-Met, Harry Pedler professional model, and the Wm. Haynes Thermo-Clarinet. These don't come up for sale very often and when they do they typically sell for very high prices. Often I think these models tend to appeal more to collectors and connoisseurs due to their rarity but I can attest that the ones I have played (I own a P-M Clari-Met and a Harry Pedler) have indeed been excellent instruments.
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Author: Bill Patry
Date: 2013-01-03 22:06
I second my fellow Nutmeger's remarks. I have a HN White Silver King (sterling bell), a Clari-Met, and a Gras metal clarinet. I am in the process of getting a Silva-Bet. They are fantastic instruments.
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