 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Guffen
Date: 2013-04-29 17:03
Hello!
I have just bought myself a used clarinet at a used market. It is a Malerne, but that is all I am able to find out about it. I'd like to find some kind of number or model-id on it, but I dont know where to look. What is typical with Malerne's clarinets? The mouthpiece is Windwood K10M. Is that original?
By the way...... I live in Norway.
Guffen
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-04-29 17:27
Guffen wrote:
> Hello!
> I have just bought myself a used clarinet at a used market. It
> is a Malerne, but that is all I am able to find out about it.
> I'd like to find some kind of number or model-id on it, but I
> dont know where to look. What is typical with Malerne's
> clarinets? The mouthpiece is Windwood K10M. Is that original?
Is the clarinet actually marked with the Malerne name or were you just told that it was made by them? Malerne was known as one of the mare prolific makers of stencil instruments and probably made far more instruments under other names than their own.
Some good information can be found here: http://www.clarinetpages.net/clarinet-history/malerne
The Woodwind K10M mouthpiece is probably not original as it would be strange for a US-made mouthpiece to be included as original equipment with a French-made clarinet. That being said, many of the vintage mouthpieces made by Woodwind Co. were quite good and were probably some of the better mass-produced mouthpieces available at the time.
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Author: Guffen
Date: 2013-04-29 18:48
It is marked with:
RM
R.Malerne
Paris
on all pieces. No stars, no "profesional", no nothing.
The case is marked Leblanc.
I don't actually know if it is wood or plastic or hard rubber. I guess hard rubber.
And it's marked "R3" in the "out-part".
I bougt the flat wooden thing today and managed to make both noise and some kind of tone....
Tnx for the link.
Guffen
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2013-04-30 00:36
My early Malerne's are not named as 'Standard' or 'Professional', but just R. Malerne. Most are of nice Grenadilla wood, but a few 'Standard's are hard rubber.
I've always felt the early Malerne's and the later 'Standard' are nice intermediate -level clarinets, quite well made. Keywork is usually unplated german silver (white brass) that polishes up well and has a good feel. The later 'Professional' model appears to be identical, but for a little lighter spring action and marginally nicer wood. I've not encountered a cracked Malerne yet, of my 10 or so horns. In that regard, they're much like the Boosey and Hawkes clarinets, with well cured, old growth Grenadilla.
I picked up a hard rubber 'Standard' to see how the sound compared to an identical one of Grenadilla wood. No difference at all, to my ear at least. Both sound very nice full and mellow.
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: Guffen
Date: 2013-04-30 10:26
Thank you for a good description, Mr. Sherwood.
I still want to know if it is possible to find out how old my clarinet is. Is there model or serial number someplace on the instrument?
Guffen
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2013-04-30 15:37
I don't know if records exist on Malerne serial# and manufacture dates. My guess is the early ones like yours were made late 40's - early 50's. Later Standards and Professionals likely 50's and 60's.
There are numerous Malerne threads on this site under "Search", that might have more accurate info.
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-05-01 11:54
I have a 60's Malerne badged as a Charles Ponte. The wood seems very good with a tight grain. The bore is larger than any of my other clarinets. The key work polished nicely with no blemishes and the intonation is spot on, maybe one of the best IMHO. It's presently on a trip with me being subjected to all the temperature extremes that a car trip through NYC, the east coast and the Rockies can muster. The more I play it, the more I appreciate it even though it has a stuffy Bb throat tone and a leak in the lower body that no one seems to be able to find. The Charles Ponte stencil on the top section is so sloppily done that it ruins the look of the horn. You think they could have taken an extra minute or two once they received it from France. My stencil is clear on one half but faint on the other half. the design of the stencil font looks like type face you would see in a 60's high school flyer. It annoys me every time I look at it.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-05-01 13:12
I'm surprised none can find the leak. Does it leak with all the keys off and the holes plugged? When we repair clarinets, we make sure that the body seals, then recheck the seal as we replace the keys. If at he the end there is still a problem playing it, it is usually the 3-ring key.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Guffen
Date: 2013-05-01 15:34
That was off topic, Mr Ocoone
But as a repair man, I guess you know the answer to my question?
Guffen
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