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 Vintage Selmer clarinet ID?
Author: MaDDoG 
Date:   2012-05-08 05:30

I have a clarinet from an estate sale. It is a Bundy Selmer "Resonite" clarinet, made in Elkhart, Indiana, serial number 137188, in a tweed case.

http://tinypic.com/r/2ajumj8/6
http://tinypic.com/r/140k8j7/6
http://tinypic.com/r/2lvob9j/6
http://tinypic.com/r/onytv/6
http://tinypic.com/r/x43hxc/6
http://tinypic.com/r/2nk0wsi/6


I've done a lot of looking around, found a few auctions that appear to be selling clarinets in the same case, even looked at a variety of lists of serial numbers, but the all-numeric serial doesn't seem to fit. So.. any help on what model of clarinet this is? Approximate vintage? Approximate value (as-is)? - note that it is missing the ligature.

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 Re: Vintage Selmer clarinet ID?
Author: SteveG_CT 
Date:   2012-05-08 06:07

Unfortunately I don't know of any recent serial number lists for Selmer USA/Bundy but I suspect that your clarinet was made within the past 30 years or so. The approximate value in as is condition will unfortunately be very low, likely <$50. Similar clarinet often sell on the Goodwill site for ~$20-$30 and sometimes even less. Bundy clarinet can be good student instruments but there are so many of them on the market that the resale value just isn't there.

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 Re: Vintage Selmer clarinet ID?
Author: Lelia Loban 2017
Date:   2012-05-08 13:14

Selmer made Bundies in Elkhart over a long period of years. The dates for Selmer serial numbers won't apply to Bundies. I think that case looks as if it dates from a good bit earlier than 30 years ago (I'd guess late 1930s through 1940s), but I agree with Steve G about the value of old Bundies. It costs more to have them professionally restored than they're worth.

Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.

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 Re: Vintage Selmer clarinet ID?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2012-05-08 15:35

According to http://www.clarinetperfection.com/snclarinet.htm, production of plastic Bundys began in 1948.

Photo http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=x43hxc&s=6 shows, I think, a needle spring for the throat A key. I had one of these in the mid-50s, but it was well-used and probably came from the early 50s. Later (I think) Bundys had a flat spring.

The design was problematic because the needle spring was very short. Standard "blued" springs quickly snapped. You need to make sure you have a stainless steel spring there.

Bundy's are indestructable, and yours will undoubtedly play up to its quality (not very high) with fresh pads, etc. In its current rough condition, it is unlikely to sell for more than, say, $35. (The absence of a ligature is meaningless. Prices for them begin at $5.)

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Vintage Selmer clarinet ID?
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2012-05-08 19:45

The one Bundy Resonite I owned as a beginner had the S/N of 530040. It was made in 1968.

Jeff

“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010

"A drummer is a musician's best friend."


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 Re: Vintage Selmer clarinet ID?
Author: BethGraham 
Date:   2019-04-07 01:02

I'm using my mom's Selmer Bundy Resonite from the 1950s or a skosh earlier, I think. She played in a community marching band around 1950 and majored in music at UCLA in the mid-50s.

The serial number on mine, which has only the ghost of a label remaining on the bell, is 62094. (The serial number is located at the bottom of the top joint.) I would be grateful I'd anyone could help me nail down a more accurate date.

It's been a decent instrument to learn on and the connection to my mom tickles me. (I wrote in another thread about the hideous Selmer Goldentone mouthpiece that came with it, which did not amuse me, and which I've replaced with a way-better Fobes Debut.)

Anyway, if anyone can tell me more about the date of my instrument, I'd really appreciate it.

Beth

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 Re: Vintage Selmer clarinet ID?
Author: Ursa 
Date:   2019-04-07 05:03

Hi, Beth,

As noted above, there are no serial number lists for Bundy clarinets. I would estimate yours to date from 1951, give or take a year.

I once had a 1950s Bundy in my studio, and was very pleased with it. Selmer USA claimed that the acoustic design of the Bundy Resonite was based on the Selmer Paris Balanced Tone clarinet, and there is indeed a certain Selmer character to the tone and response of the Bundy Resonite--though I think the early Bundys exhibit more of this Selmer character than the later ones do.

Yours, being such an early example, could very well represent the best of what this model had to offer. I'd love to give it a test play!

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 Re: Vintage Selmer clarinet ID?
Author: BethGraham 
Date:   2019-04-07 06:50

Well, if you're ever in my neck of the woods, you're welcome to try it. Thank you so much for that information!

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