 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nspeller
Date: 2017-04-29 22:01
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Hi all, I am fairly new to the clarinet and had a plastic Yamaha and fancied trying a wooden Clarinet so I took an eBay punt!
I got a wooden clarinet and I am assuming it's a Boosey and Hawkes....
It has Made in England on the joints and serial numbers on both joints of 164645
The bell has the very feint Hi Spot logo on it - I can't seem to find out anything about hi spot!
It has B&H on barrel and one mouthpiece.
To me it looks like 1957-9 Boosey & Hawkes but no idea which model it's based on.
Can anyone help shed any light on it please?
Thanks,
Nick
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-04-29 22:43
That's a B&H Edgware from the late '50s as you mentioned, so spot on there.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Joseph Brenner, Jr.
Date: 2017-04-29 22:56
Unable to give you a definitive answer on brand or model, I can say that the serial number on my B&H 8-10 is N 161478--beginning with the same style tilted N and same number of digits. I got mine new in summer of 1958. Each key of the 4-key cluster for the right hand is long, like mine. I was told that the Salvation Army used B&H clarinets. My tenon rings are different from yours, my tenons are capped, and my bell has a ring, though I understand that many or even most B&H's lack bell rings. My B&H model was probably made for the U.S market.
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Author: nspeller
Date: 2017-04-30 01:53
Thank you Chris and Joseph for taking time to look.
n@spellers.net
Post Edited (2017-04-30 03:27)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2017-04-30 04:46
The British Band Instrument Company was a branch of Boosey and Hawkes, and was intended to provide good quality instruments at a fairly modest cost for the school band/orchestra market. Their designs were the standard B&H designs of the day with the BBIC label. As Chris said, this is an Edgware. I have an similar instrument in plastic which I carry in my car as a backup. B&H instruments for the US market were mostly with bell rings, but those intended for the home/commonwealth had ringless bells. No idea why.
Tony F.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-04-30 04:56
Tony- I can imagine your backup clarinet being ready if A) your primary clarinet of the day fails you, or B) you unexpectedly have need of a clarinet- one never knows when that might happen.
A backup instrument is an essential item, just like a backup camera.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: nspeller
Date: 2017-04-30 12:34
Thanks Tony and Stan, it's good to get confirmation.
The clarinet was very dry so I've spent the week gently oiling it so I hope to try it out and test the pads today.
Nick
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2017-04-30 14:43
For what it's worth, keywork details match that of my B&H 8-10, S/N tilted N 163543. The 8-10 does have different tenon rings as well as bright screws for the thumb rest.
Congrats on your find, Nick--and welcome to the fellowship of B&H clarinetists. B&H used some really fine wood during this era. If you find this instrument to your liking, it should last you your lifetime with proper upkeep.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-04-30 15:37
From the '50s onwards there were really only two different B&H clarinets - all the models apart from the large bore 1010 had the same bore and tonehole layout. The only significant difference between them was the body material, the keywork plating and the style of the socket rings.
There were some keywork and fittings changes in the early '60s that continued right through to the end of production in the mid '80s where the two separate trill key guides were replaced with a single one to cradle both trill keys, the throat G# key adjusting screw pip was mounted on the north side of the cup arm, the side and trill key spring recesses were ditched in favour of flat bottomed trill/side keys, the C#/G# touchpiece was lengthened, the linkage between the joints was reversed, the LH F/C touchpiece was knurled, the inside edges of the ring keys were rounded off, the RH E/B and F#/C# key linkages were reshaped, the speaker tube eventually became threaded and had two notches to remove/refit it, the Ab/Eb stopper was changed from being mounted in the double-headed pillar to a metal post that was a push fit into the lower joint that also doubled as a pillar lock, ...
The worst thing B&H did was using phosphor bronze needle (or round) springs as when they break, they usually break flush with the pillar. They later used stainless steel needle springs on their lower order clarinets.
As for the bells, there were three different styles - the standard model in wood and ebonite was a ringless bell with a decorative beading recessed into the lip. The plastic bells had a much sharper lip with beading around it and some wooden bells were made in this style too, but not all that common. Then there were bells with metal rings that were on export and on some stencil models. A much plainer version of the ringless bell was used on the lateer Rudall Carte stencils.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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