 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: archiele
Date: 2001-05-28 04:37
I need help determining the age of my Three Star clarinet. The serial number starts out with a 39... Is this the year of manufacture? I bought the instrument to play in my colleges Pep-Band, it is in very good condition, and thus I would like to know how old this wonderful instrument is.
Thank you for any assistance in this search.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-05-28 17:38
Its a metal, right? Probably back in the 1920-30 s , search under Bettoney [or C B] for Mark's info re: them. Don
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-05-28 18:17
It is doubtful that the first two digits give the year. Most manufacturers simply numbered sequentially from the first horn of the particular model.
Due to the numbers I see on the auctions, the Three Star was probably a student model.
The heyday of the metal clarinets was the 1930s and 1940s. Some were made in the 1920s but not in the quantity that they were later. At least one manufacturer (Leblanc Noblet) continued to produce a metal clarinet up into the 1960s.
What does the case look like? Sometimes this can give a clue to the age of the instrument if it is an original case.
Cundy-Bettoney was a decent company in its day.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2001-05-28 19:39
Cundy-Bettoney made pretty good instruments. I have a C-B Db piccolo which is surprisingly well in tune.
BTW, the old C-B mouthpieces are usually excellent, so you may want to try it (if that's what is on the clarinet.)
Chris
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-05-28 21:47
I've got some old band scores that call for the Db piccolo so I knew they existed at one time. It's nice to hear that someone actually has one.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-29 18:45
Chris -
Bettony metal clarinets - at least the better models, such as the Silva-Bet - originally came with mouthpieces made by Chedeville. They weren't the best blanks, and they didn't get the hand finishing, but they are still highly desirable. Thus it's rare to find a Bettony with the original mouthpiece. Also, metal instruments were designed for students, and the mouthpieces are seldom in playable condition. Still, when one comes up for auction, it's worth asking casually whether the mouthpiece also says Bettony.
Happy hunting.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-05-29 18:56
Ken Shaw wrote:
>
> Chris -
>
> ... Also, metal instruments were designed for students, and the
> mouthpieces are seldom in playable condition.
Ken,
Not all metal clarinets were designed for students just most of them.
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