 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-23 15:16
It is well known that Linton did not make their own clarinets of any kind. They sold stencils --- clarinets made for them by other manufacturers. In fact, Jack Linton's horns frequented places like the Sears catalogues in the 1950's & 1980's.
Well, none of that is news. However, It was also known that Selmer made some stencil horns for Linton. Is the horn below related to the Selmer 9* ?
((It could be, I certainly don't know know. However, the name for the model would make sense.))
Here is the URL:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1438616250
Best,
mw
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Author: Jack Swickard
Date: 2001-06-23 18:22
I am also curious. I have a Selmer 9* but I can't tell from the picture whether it
matches. I'll know better when it arrives--but I would appreciate any info?
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2001-06-24 04:52
Well, I didn't (and don't) know much about Linton. If they didn't make their contra clarinets, then who did? Those things don't look like any other I have seen.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-24 05:20
The answer may be that Robert Malerne provided the (stenciled) Contra-Bass Clarinet. According to Jack Kissinger of Saint Louis University, Robert Malerne made all Bass Clarinets for Linton.
Here is post in the Klarinet Archives:
---------------------------------------
Return-Path: <klarinet-return-15878-archive=sneezy.org@sneezy.org>
Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 21:39:09 -0500
From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@SLU.EDU>
Organization: Saint Louis University
References: <372DE9A0.109275BF@db.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] Malerne?
Ken Wohlman asked if anyone has had any experience with clarinets manufactured by Robert Malerne. Only a few people have responded. In particular, Sherry Katz certainly doesn't have much good to say about them.From her message, however, I can't tell whether she's actually ever played or seen one. In any case, I disagree with most of what she says.
My first wooden clarinet was a new Malerne Bb ("Professional"). My parents
surprised me with it for Christmas in 1955. I was in 5th grade. I think they got it from the Sears catalog. In those days, Sears sold just about everything. I also own a Malerne/Linton eefer. (Jack Linton, the current president of Linton Woodwinds, identified and dated it for me. According to him, all of Linton's wood clarinets were stencils.) I bought it used a couple of years ago as a back up instrument. I take it with me on trips where I might want a clarinet to noodle around on. Mark Charette could probably give us the company's exact dates from Langwell's but my guess would be that it dates back to the 30's or 40's. Whether Robert Malerne ever worked for Buffet, I cannot say. It's quite possible. However, he was much more than a "spare-time" clarinet manufacturer and to say that he "had his own shop for awhile" is a considerable understatement.
The company's factory was located in the "woodwind district" outside Paris close to the Buffet and Selmer factories. (I think Leblanc is also in the vicinity but I'm not sure.) Again, according to Jack Linton, moonlighting was common in that era and district so Malerne likely had more than a little work done by the same craftsmen who were turning out Buffet and Selmer instruments and design innovations had a way of migrating. After Buffet, Selmer and Leblanc, Malerne was one of the largest and longst-lived French manufacturers. Renault built a factory in this area which siphoned off much of the area's skilled labor. This probably helped account for the demise of many of the smaller manufacturers. While Malerne survived the Renault factory, he was unable to interest any of his children (or anyone else) in becoming an apprentice so the business died with him. I don't know the exact date but I estimate the late 70's or early 80's. This is based on the facts that my Malerne/Linton eefer was made in 1972 and that SML (Strasser, Marigaux and Lemaire -- most well-known for their oboes and english horns) purchased the Malerne factory around 1984.
I think that to say Malerne clarinets "were a lower grade instrument when new" is an overgeneralization and probably a mischaracterization. For some time before and after my Bb was made, Malerne had three lines of Bb soprano clarinet, the "Professional," the "Intermediate" and the "Standard" (student model). While Malernes arguably never achieved the quality (and certainly did not achieve the reputation) of Buffets, Selmers or Leblancs in France, my "Professional" Malerne Bb and my Malerne/Linton eefer are both well-built instruments with good wood and sound keywork. They play fine for me and have stood up well over time. IMO, the Bb still compares favorably with the Buffet E11, Noblet Model 40, Selmer CL200 and Yamaha Model 34. Malernes also generally represent good value because they sell at off-brand prices. Bb's tend to go for $50 - $80 on eBay. I played mine for 10 years before I finally succumbed to the lure of the R13. Then I used it as my backup for many years. When my daughter was ready to start clarinet lessons, she used it, studying with a clarinetist in the St. Louis Symphony. This teacher remarked on more than one occasion how amazed she was at its good quality. Malerne was well-respected in his day. In addition to manufacturing instruments under his own label, he also manufactured "stencil" instruments for Olds, Conn and Linton (and possibly others).
Whether the Malerne at Roberto's is worth $800 to you obviously depends on what kind of condition it's in, how it plays, what else is available and how much you/your girlfriend want to spend on a bass clarinet for a youngster. If Malerne basses are anything like the two smaller Malerne-made instruments I own, however, I think most doublers would find them preferable to a plastic Yamaselbufflanc. I agree with Ed Lacy that, at the very least, it's worth a serious look. By way of comparison, BTW, at one time Wichita Band Instruments had two resonite Malerne basses -- one a stencil for Conn, the other a stencil for Olds. The asking price was $695 for each. Both were in "good playing condition" but neither had been reconditioned or even fully repadded. They hung around for a few months but eventually both apparently sold.
There isn't much additional information about Malerne clarinets in the archives. However, about a year ago, Matthew Hanson posted some specific information about Malerne/Linton bass clarinets to the list. Before you buy a Malerne bass, you might want to check to see if his comments are also true for bass clarinets Malerne sold under its own label. Matthew wrote (my quote is all of the substance in his message): "Older Linton/Malerne bass clarinets have a one piece cork tenon neck pipe much like the Noblet bass clarinet. These necks wobble excessively when pulled out for tuning reasons. This same design was used for Boosey & Hawkes' Edgeware wooden bass clarinet. They usually have a broad sound and the instrument body is thick, but keywork is of soft metal so adjustment is a constant concern. [Note: RogerGarrett sold a Linton/Malerne bass clarinet on Bay awhile back. His keys were probably soft, too. They were sterling silver.) The dual pad cup for F/C is usually present. Register mechanism is inferior and throat Bb up to E are usually horrible due to register key placement and tube length. The hard rubber Malernes on this design are heavy instruments and have a ponderous
sound. I wouldn't call them bad, but they are definately without a doubt very DIFFERENT. If you find one you like, I'd suggest replacing the neck with a Charles Bay tuning neck"
One final point. Sherry Katz wrote: I also think that there are used instrument dealers out there, like www.playitagainbob.com who have the Malerne, econditioned, for around $400. Considering how easy it is to check out such a claim, I'm surprised Sherry didn't bother to do it. Out of curiosity, I checked and, guess what? Playitagainbob does indeed have a reconditioned Malerne (actually it's a Linton but Malerne made all of Linton's wooden bass clarinets). The asking
price, however, is $995.
Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis
Ken Wolman wrote:
My girlfriend wants to get a used bass clarinet for her son, who played mine a few times and has a total affinity for the thing. However, since I refuse to give mine away:-), I've been hunting around the City. I tried out a Kohlert, all wood, which I like less than my plastic Selmer/Bundy: the tone is thinner and very stuffy. It also would not take my mouthpiece: a basic Selmer would not go into the socket.
Roberto's on W. 46th has TWO of them in. One is a used pro Selmer for $3K, in meticulously good shape; but for a student, that is a bit of overkill. The other is a horn with the brand-name Malerne. It's all-wood, too, and they want $800 for it.
So does anyone have any experience with Malerne instruments? Were they sold under another brand name that would be more familiar. Is a used bass in decent shape be worth $800?
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-06-25 14:00
I believe Buffet made Linton's wood soprano clarinets. Why the model number of this eBay horn is "9*", I couldn't say.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-06-25 15:16
Not to confuse the thread but R. Malerne also made Bass Clarinet "stencils" for Conn. Dave Spiegelthal has just finished reconditioning one for me (I'ts in the mail folks) and he said it is an awesome horn and he thinks it might even play better than his Kohlert. I'm in heaven.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-06-25 15:17
Not to confuse the thread but R. Malerne also made Bass Clarinet "stencils" for Conn. Dave Spiegelthal has just finished reconditioning one for me (I'ts in the mail folks) and he said it is an awesome horn and he thinks it might even play better than his Kohlert. I'm in heaven. Bob A
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-06-25 15:29
Not to confuse the thread but R. Malerne also made Bass Clarinet "stencils" for Conn. Dave Spiegelthal has just finished reconditioning one for me (I'ts in the mail folks) and he said it is an awesome horn and he thinks it might even play better than his Kohlert. I'm in heaven. Bob A
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-06-25 15:35
A very interesting discussion, since my oboe playing was on a Linton wood ZRS oboe, big toned!, and I met and talked with Jack [the younger?] in the '60's about double reeds, tho. A while back I bought on EBAY a hard-rubber [looks-like] bass cl, Linton USA-Paris, # 5M 23xxx, single body, lowEb, LH Ab/Eb, Art. C#/G#, single reg. key BUT has a LARGE "pinchBb" tone hole/pad, gives a fine Bb!, and decent lower-clarion sounds!! Believe it to be a Malerne-made! It cost only a "song and a half" since it had a broken upper socket, repaired and restored very well by Carl McGuire in Tulsa at moderate cost. A good player, is my #2 bass cl. Just wanted to add what I can. Any ? s? Don
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-06-28 21:10
According to Jack Linton (Jr.?) a few years ago, Linton sold clarinets from around 1960 to 1972 and the 9* refers to the year in which the instrument was made, 1969, not the manufacturer. Linton made its own plastic sopranos (which are identified as Elkhart, Indiana, USA). Wooden instruments were stencilled in France and are identified as Paris/USA. Since your bass was marked Paris/USA, Don, I think you are right in inferring that Malerne made it.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-29 00:39
Jack, what about Linton metal clarinets? Did Linton make them? We had another Sneezy member who was interested? Thanks. mw
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-06-29 03:11
Sorry, I've never seen or heard of a Linton metal clarinet. If it is marked Elkhart, they probably made it. The elder Linton was apparently quite an experimenter when it came to instrument design. I have seen a Linton soprano (plastic) with a curved metal neck and bell like a miniature bass clarinet and have also heard of (but never seen) a clarinet d'amore that is quite a collector's item. My understanding is that they have always put their primary focus on double-reed instruments, though.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-29 17:04
I had an e-mail recently from Jim Lande (sorry, if mispelled) who indicated he either had in his possession or had seen a Linton Metal (Soprano Bb) Clarinet. I can't recall if Jim said whether it was Indiana or Paris, if at all. Thanks. mw
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2001-06-29 22:49
I didn't get to see it up close. It was listed on eBay and was a Contrabass.
Someone on the Contralist (all things bass & lower) had played on both EEb and
BBb Lintons. I don't recall any mention of where made. My original thought was
that it it had been a stencil, then someone else made it, and therefore someone else
probably sold contra clarinets in their own name, too. Well, maybe.
jim
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-07-04 17:16
I looked through the Sneezy archives to see if I could find the original post and came up with a mention of the contrabass on eBay. According to that poster, the instrument was made by Orsi in Italy. The Orsi design was apparently unique and recognizable. It doesn't surprise me that Linton imported such an instrument nor that it would be metal. I have never heard of a Linton metal soprano clarinet, though.
jnk
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2001-07-05 03:16
very interesting. I poked around the Orsi site and they don't currently offer contra instruments. However, their site says that they have been in business since 1836, that they have every model they have ever offered, and that they will make reproductions on request. I wrote them to ask when they made contras and whether they offered them under the Orsi name. I will post here if I learn anything.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-07-06 20:22
Oops! I just discovered that I found the reference to the "Orsi Linton" contrabass in a previous bulletin board message (from October, 2000) -- not the Sneezy archives. Jim, you posted a fairly long quote from Matthew Hanson, giving his identification of the item. Also, one of the messages mentioned that the poster had seen a similar instrument in (a presumably old) Orsi catalog. Search for "Linton Orsi" without the quotes.
Best regards,
Jack
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