 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2021-12-06 18:43
At the moment a well-known auction site are offering a clarinet purporting to be a Louis. These were made in Chelsea, London from around 1923 until around 1940 and were developed from the very fine instruments of Martel Freres. I have one, and it's a very fine instrument indeed. The puzzling aspect of the instrument offered is that it is clearly marked 'Made in Italy" in English. Does anybody have knowledge of Louis of Chelsea having instruments made in Italy or is it perhaps possible that the instrument offered is a mix-and-match combination of various parts?
Tony F.
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Author: graham
Date: 2021-12-07 17:18
I realise that one cannot assume that the case is the original case when the instrument was new, but it carries the name of the Dawkes retail business, which was founded in 1966, and the case does appear to be from that period. Not an encouraging sign.
Are there any examples of definite Louis Chelsea instruments having scalloped joint rings? They are usually flat, as in B&H and Hawkes.
The look of the clarinet is post war to me. The keywork is clearly post 1930s.
Just doesn't look right.
graham
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-12-07 23:05
Louis of Chelsea only ever handmade pro level instruments in London. The former employees formed Howarth in the late 1940s.
The Louis name was in turn bought by B&H who used it on their French (Malerne/Marigaux) and Italian (Prestini/Orsi) imports in the '60s and '70s. If you see a Louis Artist model oboe or cor anglais, that's most likely a Malerne/Marigaux instrument if it's a Louis LM5, that's Italian. They did the same with other names like Lafleur and Rudall Carte and you'd even see Taiwanese flutes stencilled Rudall Carte which is really rubbing salt into open wounds.
Just as well Howarth dug their heels in to remain independent and didn't fall to the B&H axe when they tried it on.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2021-12-08 11:26
So it would be fair to assume that the clarinet offered is one of the B&H Prestini/Orsi instruments. The rings on my Louis are plain, much like those on my 926. Thanks to the responders for clarifying this.
Tony F.
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