 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: OzUilleann
Date: 2013-06-01 12:23
Hi all,
Just joined this forum because I found an old clarinet in an antique shop which on closer inspection was made of blackwood. The stamped text and logo on the body and bell were very feint and hard to read but I could see it said:
DNoblet
Paris
Made for Drouyn and Drouyn, Brisbane.
Drouyn and Drouyn began operations in Brisbane in the 1930s so that is some indication of the vintage.
However, what has me scratching my head is that a distinguishing feature of the clarinet is that it had no ring keys on any of the main tone holes on either the top of bottom sections, suggesting it is neither Bohem nor Albert system.
Any ideas about the vintage of such a Noblet?
Also, the asking price is $350. Fair or not? All keys have a lovely light action and the wood is in very good condition. I didn't get a chance to look for a serial number and the text was very feint as I said it was hard to make much more out.
Thanks in advance,
DavidG
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modernicus
Date: 2013-06-01 14:20
I have seen pictures of something like this-I think it was a Buffet. Price? Who knows. How bad do you want it? I would think it needs to be playable or close for this price?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-06-01 21:31
$350 is way high. The true value is closer to $35, or maybe $50.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: OzUilleann
Date: 2013-06-02 03:53
Yeah $350 seemed pretty steep to me. If it was $50 or even $100 I would probably have taken it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-06-05 13:31
I wouldn't have bought it for any $350 -- yipes! -- but it does sound interesting. I suppose if I found something like that in good condition, in a situation where I could examine it in person instead of trusting photos, I'd go somewhere between $50 and $75 on it, but a dealer who starts at $350 is too optimistic for me to bother bartering. We'd be too far apart and my lowball offer would only annoy him, so I'd just walk.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2013-06-06 23:08
Sounds like a C20 reproduction of a C19 12 or 13-key clarinet. Denis Noblet sold his business in 1904 to Georges Leblanc who continued to use the brand for many years. AFAIK Drouyn & Drouyn started in business around 1928 so that dates this horn somewhat. It's not likely that by the 1920s/1930s anyone would still be making Mueller-type clarinets except for special orders/purposes. Also the horn is black wood. Don't think it could justify $350. Did you happen to notice if the keys were modern looking or the older 'salt spoon' type?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: OzUilleann
Date: 2013-06-15 09:21
Hi Chris,
Yeah D&D began in about 1927. I found an image of one of their flyers stating that they also imported instruments and listed was 'D Noblet (Paris) Clarinets. I wonder if the no-ring-key configuration was a special design exclusively for D&D.
The keys were definietly modern, not salt spoon.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
