 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SpiritTalker
Date: 2014-10-13 22:42
So I have this metal clarinet I purchased many years ago and it's been living in the garage in it's stinky little case, forgotten and ignored. Now that I've been afflicted the "clarinet collecting disease" I remembered the pitiful thing's existence and dug it out.
Much to my surprise, it's a beautiful King American Standard with the rather low serial of 73xx, which dates it roughly 1927/28, ish. Not just any ole horn, either, as it has a lacquered brass body and silver (yet to be determined if silver or nickel) keys and is in decent condition. Amazingly, the case contains a presumably original King "B" mouthpiece, screw-in lyre, and CASE KEY neatly pinned to the lid. Stinky, yes, but still in nice shape, the case.
The pads are a bit deteriorated and I haven't even attempted to play it. The body has some scratches...minor bell ding...nothing major. Should shine up pretty decently. No clue how it will play (my guess is not that great) and I'm not sure if it even will in it's current condition. It will be a fun project though!
I have combed over the forums and can't find much about brass bodied clarinets. Are they really that rare? I'm a little surprised they'd A)go to the trouble to make it that pretty for a student model and B)that they even lacquer a clarinet that early (year-wise), and a student model, at that.
I'm sure the "gold" won't make it sound any better but she sure will be a gorgeous conversation piece! And a *really* complete one at that. Are brass Kings an oddity, do you think?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2014-10-13 23:59
I have several brass-bodied clarinets from the 1920s, two Penzel-Muellers and a King. They are not that rare. They were student or marching or military band instruments. Nothing to get excited about (although you are welcome to if you like).
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Author: SpiritTalker
Date: 2014-10-14 00:18
More excited that I unearthed it from the depths of storage to find it wasn't the no-name stencil in basic tarnished silver that my memory insisted it was.
I have no expectations of it's playing capacity. I'm in no hurry to repad it to find out because I'm sure it's probably crappy.
Polishing it up and showing my non-musical distant relatives/acquaintances does hold some promise in the excitement department, however! That part will be quite fun!
So I'm to understand that the lack of internet information for said brass model is in no way a reflection of it's actual availability on the open market? lol
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2014-10-14 00:51
As a lamp, it should shine up a lot better than the tarnished metal clarinet I use for that purpose. (No clarinet was harmed in the making of the lamp.)
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-10-14 08:05
I agree with Dave...nothing to get excited about here.
Being an early example from one of King's better second-line brands instead of a dirt-cheap stencil, it may actually be playable. If there's no frozen screws and rods, you might consider attempting to repair it yourself.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2014-10-14 19:43
I remember seeing a Kohlert all brass bass clarinet years ago in an antique shop. If I had the $ I would have considered getting it just for the fun of it.
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Author: MichaelW
Date: 2014-10-14 22:07
Attachment: King.jpg (231k)
Attachment: King 2.JPG (136k)
I had never seen a metal clarinet in laquered brass (I own a Silver King)- and now, two or three days ago, I found the following announcement on the German auction site:
„...American Standard made by King Craftsmen, The H.-N.-White Co., Cleveland, Ohio, corks and pads almost new, playable...intonation (fair)“ etc. Obviously silver coated keys, no serial number to be seen on the fotos. 101 Euros (as of today).
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2014-10-14 23:25
Ed: Years ago I restored a lacquered brass Kohlert bass clarinet belonging to Jim Lande, who frequently posts here (usually on the subject of metal clarinets). That instrument played very similarly to the nickel-plated Kohlert metal bass clarinet I owned and played at the time. Which in turn was very similar to the wood and hard-rubber Kohlert basses of similar vintage, of which I've had many (and still have a couple). The body material seems to make little if any difference in the sound and general playing quality of the instruments, in my experience. But the Cool Factor of a metal bass clarinet is undeniable....
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Author: SpiritTalker
Date: 2014-10-15 00:51
MichaelW: The pics of the clarinet you attached look identical to mine...only in much shinier shape and in a newer case.
They undoubtedly have that "cool factor" going on in the looks-department.
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2014-10-28 23:37
Those are not the "good" ones as mentioned, unfortunately- the bell would look like a Silver (double walled style)King and they seem to show up way more infrequently...
Post Edited (2014-10-29 15:37)
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