 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BPClar
Date: 2010-08-15 02:04
I have read many forum discussions on the Pedler clarinet and all have some very interesting things to say. I have a couple questions that perhaps some of you may be able to help me with. To begin I have a wooden Pedler clarinet. It is marked with a lyre and says THE PEDLER CO. Elkhart Ind--Elkhart being the location of course. The body has no name on it at all--Pedler isn't mentioned again on the clarinet until the bell which says America by Pedler. I know that the Pedler company was bought out in the 30's or so and they began to create a lesser quality of instrument but according to other research I have done this should date prior to Harry Pedler retiring. I am not really familiar with serial numbers and I know the records are not available to track this number but the number is A7075--I am assuming that is a relatively early number. This is all based off of a lot of speculation and I suppose I am asking for affirmation that what I am assuming is accurate. If not I would really love to hear any other insight any of you may have.
I nearly forgot to add--upon inspection of the keys themselves I found a couple pieces of metal built into the frame that actually restrict some of the keys from being pressed. Any information on that would be very helpful as well!
Post Edited (2010-08-15 02:13)
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2010-08-18 02:09
The Harry Pedler Company passed to Martin Band Instrument Co. in 1930 when Harry Pedler retired. Martin used the name until 1936 when they began to use the name The Pedler Co. instead. Your horn appears to date from well after Harry Pedler's time. "American" was a brand used by the Pedler co. I have a plastic "American" - not a very distinguished horn at all. there doesn't appear to be any useful serial number info. out there either for the Harry Pedler or the Pedler Co. horns. Earlier wooden Harry Pedlers were pretty good horns, silver plated keywork but clunky keys reminiscent of Martin Freres horns. The small metal pieces are to prevent certain keys from opening too far and messing up tone and intonation; e.g. you'll probably find a metal spur on a post that prevents the low G sharp from opening too much.
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Author: kewald
Date: 2020-09-09 21:21
I have an American Student clarinet which I've been told was made by Pedler. It is hard rubber, serial number 63425, which I assume was made after Martin bought the company. So perhaps 1940's?
Kenneth O Ewald, Sr.
210 219-7787
kenneth.ewald@outlook.com
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2020-09-10 03:40
I have a Harry Pedler instrument in hard rubber. There is no serial number that I can locate and it has a modification to the usual crows foot arrangement. There is no crows foot as such and adjustment is by set screws much like the B & H 1010. It has silver plated keywork and is generally pretty clunky and not as good as I was expecting.
Tony F.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2020-09-11 01:49
Author: el gitano
Date: 2020-09-10 23:11
"hardrubber with silver plated keywork, hmmmmmm"
Yes, I see what you mean. It didn't have the slightly yellowish tinge that nickel plate acquires with time, so I made an assumption. It's probably maillechorte or unplated nickel silver. (I know that there's no silver in nickel silver, but what's in a name?)
Tony F.
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Author: Harry Penzel
Date: 2024-09-19 08:59
Tony F-
If it was an MBIC "The Pedler Co.", one could order silver or chrome-nickel plated keys. If you have a stamped "Harry Pedler & Co." with plated keys, the keys were plated at some point after time of manufacture, as all Harry Pedler clarinets came in unplated nickel-silver.
After MBIC took over the remaining interest in the company, the keys did get a little clunkier. No longer were they as light and graceful as they had been under Harry Pedler. This is not to say that some select models from MBIC were not professional, but they were the exception rather than the rule.
Harry Pedler & Co. made a fine clarinet for the time. They were not exceptional, but they are quite good and comparable with their contemporary American competition, and superior in key feature design, often, as you mention the "Pedler Appliance" crow's foot alternative. Harry Pedler's hard rubber also ages with the best of them, unless horribly abused.
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