 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sweet Licorice
Date: 2015-05-27 07:42
I have come into possession of sequentially numbered Bb and A Selmer Albert system clarinets dating from 1927. They need complete overhauls, but they were never played much and the wood is in good shape. I am having the Bb rehabbed and am looking for advice on a case. Will standard clarinet cases hold Albert system instruments, or do I need to look for something specific?
I did some research, and supposedly the particular logo indicates that Henri Selmer personally tested and adjusted these. Nice story even if not true. Can't wait to play this thing! Any advice on a case is welcome. Thanks so much.
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Author: 4accord
Date: 2015-05-27 08:28
My Albert is a Penzel-Mueller HP, so it's a little shorter than a normal Bb. It fits well in my 1958 Boosey & Hawkes case with about a half inch of extra space for the keyed segments. If yours is an LP, it should fit even better. Mine also fits in a Hutchen modern plastic case, but not quite as well due to the wrap-around octave key, and it still has that extra half inch at the end of the keyed segments. From what I've seen, most Albert cases were originally designed so the clarinet was fitted in two pieces - with bell attached to lower joint and mouthpiece and barrel to upper. I would think it's a bad idea to leave any clarinet connected, in case the wood swells or shrinks, or the cork grease dries. It can be a risky venture to get stuck pieces apart - especially in terms of cracking the tenon sockets. My recommendation is to buy your case from someone who allows a return privilege or somewhere where you can try it first. If you do use an old-style (two-piece) case, I'd sand the corks to the minimum necessary for a good fit - less likelihood of stresses. You mentioned that one of your Selmers is an A - I doubt that will fit in a Bb case. I had to modify a two-piece Bb case for my metal A - wasn't that difficult, but it did require creating an extra inch for each of the segments. Hope this is helpful.
Post Edited (2015-05-27 08:31)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-05-27 16:13
Have a look at cases designed for German and Oehler system clarinets as the keywork on them is very similar so should fit all the recesses in the case slots better than using a Boehm system case.
Although you can use a Boehm system case and if the case lining is pliable enough, that shouldn't cause any problems. If the case interior is formed from polystyrene, then that is easy to alter by compressing it in the right places to fit your Albert/simple systems. A lot of the modern double cases have foam interiors so they will cradle any instrument in well. Vacuum formed plastic case linings will be a problem as they can't be altered all that easily.
I use a cheap Chinese single case which is based on the compact Yamaha design (26II/34II) on the inside but is a wooden box with no narrowing at the front end. It holds my Yamaha Oehler system well and I've only made a tiny alteration for the side Eb/Bb touchpiece so it fits better. You'd have to do the same alteration (by compressing the polystyrene with the blunt end of a pen) to fit a '60s B&H clarinet with the long side Eb/Bb touchpiece, so most cases can be adapted to suit most instruments.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: 4accord
Date: 2015-05-28 03:01
Attachment: Albert cased.JPG (40k)
Attachment: Albert with leathe case.JPG (242k)
Attachment: Gunkel Alberts.jpg (12k)
Attachment: Albert case, leather.JPG (207k)
A funny thing happened just today... I was at the repair shop for something to do with a sax, and I asked about any used clarinet cases for my Albert... and he came out with a Pedler two-piece type! We got to talking about the wisdom of casing a clarinet partially assembled, and he said not to worry - that what they did years ago was slide the corked parts slightly out, so as to assure easy removal and at the same time better fit the case! Interesting timing, Attached are a few pix of some Alberts with their cases up on eBay at the moment.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2015-05-28 03:28
The biggest issue, IMO, with Albert clarinets is whether or not they have a wrap-around register key. If they do they are more difficult to put in a Boehm case! My success with that happens only with a smaller clarinet than the case is designed for. (IE putting the C in the Bb's space, or the Bb in the A's space, or the Eb in the Bb's space)
The suggestion above to search for German/Oehler cases is probably a much better solution for the A in particular.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-05-29 06:00
Speaking of method books...I find it interesting that the blue Rubank method books still come with an Albert system fingering chart.
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-05-29 06:40
Someone gave me a very old Rubank book that has an Albert fingering chart. Didn't know the new ones still had one!
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