 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-10-30 15:23
Can anyone tell me about these two Boosey & Hawkes clarinets from yesteryear compare? The 1010's have gotten a bit of press on the bb recently, but not the Imperial 926. I am looking a a clarinet that has neither number on the horn itself, but is wearing a B&H 926 mouthpiece. The clarinet is marked Imperial, and has the unusual rimless bell and smooth (not ribbed) tenon rings.
The pictures of 1010's that I've seen all had 1010 on them, so I am supposing that this Imperial is a 926. Right or Wrong? I believe the s/n is around 495XXX, but I could be in error - would have to check again. Any info would be appreciated.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-10-30 15:42
My 1010 says "Symphony." It has "1010" on it. Other than those two things, it shares markings with other high-end Boosey's. Playing it is like blowing into a tree-trunk. (Sometimes the trunk sounds pretty nice.)
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-10-30 16:20
Bill, when you say your 1010 shares markings with other high-end Boosey's, does that include the bell without ring and the smooth tenon rings that I described earlier?
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-10-30 18:31
I restored a 1010 for a gentleman on the West Coast (U.S., that is) a couple of months ago, it had the rimless bell and smooth tenon rings, and as I recall it said "Imperial", not "Symphony", but I may be wrong. I've emailed him and asked him to jump into the discussion with the real facts. By the way, his clarinet plays wonderfully, IMHO.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-10-30 18:41
Yes, it has the ringless bell and the "smooth" tenon rings. It's really a 1010, honest! And it really-really says "Symphony" on it, too. Hope these facts are "real" enough for ya, Dave :^O
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-10-30 18:45
Just curious---when you restored the 1010, did you put skin or leather pads on it? Mine has all leather pads---have always wondered what I'd want to do come overhaul time. --BF.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-10-30 19:55
Dave, do you recall if the clarinet that said Imperial was also marked 1010? I just don't know what to make of a horn that says Imperial but has no number (926 or 1010). It does have the same bell/tenon characteristics as the Symphony 1010.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-10-30 20:20
I know that the clarinet I restored definitely was marked "1010" --- the question is whether it was also marked "Imperial" or instead "Symphony", and only the current owner of the instrument can answer that because I don't remember for sure. To Bill: I don't understand your remark, nothing I said was questioning the veracity of your statements. And as a matter of fact, I did use tan leather (kid) pads on the 1010, but then again I do all my clarinet restorations with leather pads nowadays, unless a customer desires something different.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-10-30 21:20
OK---I'm surprised that leather pads are still being put onto instruments. I've had three instruments fullly "overhauled" and leather pads were never an option, just cork (which I chose, in all three cases, for top joints) and skin. Glad to know someone is doing this---I would like to replace the pads with those of the type orignally furnished. --Bill.
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Author: Jack Swickard
Date: 2001-10-31 05:09
As an answer to Fred and Dave et. al. The Boosey and Hawkes 1010-- magnifricently restored by Dave Spiegelthal a few months back is marked on the upper joint and the bell with Symphony (on top) Imperial (in the middle) and Boosey & Hawkes (in small letters underneath). It is marked that way on both sections. The barrel is not marked but has the same smooth tenon rings and wood type as the rest of the horn. Both the upper and lower sections are marked with serial no. 150034. The mouthpiece is marked 1010 and the ligature and cap are marked B&H. The case is made of leather, marked Boosey & Hawkes Imperial inside, and manufactured by Lifton. I include all of the above just in case anyone out there might be interested.
The horn was impecably Spiegelthaled and is truly a joy to play around with. It wasn't easy given the condition of the horn when it was sent. Anyone out there needing work on a horn would be well served by Dave. Where else can you find an engineer who loves clarinets to restore your favored instrument. Dave also tuned up my Buffet Bass--another fine job.
However, my wife and our pet spaniel (Arthur) would be grateful if I would acquire even a modest amount of talent.
Happy Playing
Jack
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Author: graham
Date: 2001-10-31 08:34
I own a 1010 Imperial dated 1955. As said above, these are stamped Symphony/1010 in plain letters above and below "Imperial", which is written in cursive writing as you might expect from a 1950s/60s style of logo image. It has been said that 1010s of this period are the best ever produced, but others say the earliest 1010s of 1930s are the best. Having played both (1930s very briefly) they certainly seemed different.
An Imperial is a down market 926. They are the same bore etc. An Imperial plays on a 926 mouthpiece. They tended to come with a 593 mouthpiece (rubbish) and the first upgrade you did was to get the 926 mouthpiece. I doubt the Imperial has the tone hole undercutting etc. that a 926 probably had (I don't know exactly what the 926 had in this area). Imperials sound great when they are on song. The later ones were often sharp (to cope with children playing flat) and the key work went out of regulation easily. Earlier Imperials, like Edgwares, were better in this regard. All B&H clarinets of this period had ringless bells.
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Author: graham
Date: 2001-10-31 08:42
I got my names mixed up in the last message. Early morning fatigue! I was thinking of the Emperor (the down market one). The Imperial is indeed a 926 unless stamped specifically 1010.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-10-31 13:04
There has been some great information given so far. Does anyone know how the 926 and the 1010 differ?
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-10-31 14:14
Mine is serial number 508514, and it does not have the word "Imperial," only "Symphony." A later production. It does have the Acton "Improvement(s)," which, at least for one, include an additional tone hole (and key) on the bottom joint. --Bill.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-10-31 15:02
As far as I can determine from what has been said above and in prior posts, clarinets that are marked 1010 are also marked Symphony. Has anyone ever seen a B&H Imperial marked 926? If so, the Imperial might differ slightly from the 926. If not, the 926 may simply be marked Imperial.
I really appreciate the participants' willingness to discuss these horns; there seems to be little detail available about the different models and designations.
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Author: RobinEarle
Date: 2006-05-04 22:29
I have in my possession two pairs of Boosey and Hawkes 1010 clarinets. Both are ideal for producing the mellow British sound, and at the same time producing a big sound, able to let the player use vibrato easily.
The Imperial and Symphony logos apply to the 1010, my two pairs are one of each. You see - B&H produced four grades of clarinet - starting at the bottom with the Regent then the Edgeware, then the Emperor and at the top the Imperial range with a choice of the 926 the traditional bore and the 1010, the bigger bore beloved of clarinet players in the UK like myself, players of a'certain' age. The Symphony 1010 was a later invention, as my Symphony1010s were made possibly in the late 1970s. My Imperial 1010s were bought whilst a student in London, purchased at the B&H shop in Regent Street in May 1969. The Imperial range were the top end of the market and the only difference in was determined by the bore size. Vive la difference!
Hope this information is of some use to you. I can easily find out more if required.
robinearle22@gmail.com
Post Edited (2006-05-04 23:39)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-05 01:45
The 926 bore (and Regent, Edgware and Emperor) is 14.9mm at the middle tenon, the 1010 bore is wider being 15.2mm at the same point.
The keywork is different on (later) 1010s - all the keys have hollow barrels and are mounted on long steels rather than the usual pivot screws mounting all the longer keys, there's no crow's foot on the F/C key, the throat note toneholes are in slightly different positions compared to the 926. The Acton vent has already been mentioned.
Also on 1010s the bells are different lengths on the Bb and A - the A having the longer bell (Imperial 926, Emperor and Edgware Bb and A clarinets all have the same length bells) and the inside edge of the bell mouth is rounded on 1010s as opposed to the 926 and lower which have a sharp edge at the bell mouth, and the bell taper is different - 1010s have a smooth curve whereas 926 etc. are almost purely conical.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2006-05-06 00:39
Not to shift the thread but where does the B&H 2-20 fit into the family? Better, Worse?
Bob A
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-05-06 05:20
Bob,
The 2-20, as I understand it, was marketed only in the US and Canada. I've overhauled many of them, and played one myself for a while. It's basically identical to the lower-intermediate Edgware model but has the extended "Reginald Kell" lower r.h. trill key, and '"fingernail file" finish on the l.h. F/C spatula. A nice instrument.
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Author: Melody
Date: 2009-03-23 00:24
Hi there.
I know this is an old board, but perhaps you can help me.
I own a Boosey and Hawkes that is clearly marked "Imperial 926". It has serial numbers on the upper joint and lower joint. I'm not sure what you gentlemen mean about a rimless bell. My bell has two grooves on its widest point. My mouthpiece is original 926 that came with it. I had a plastic bite guard fitted to it so that it feels better on my teeth, but that's about it as far as modifications go. The sound is nice and deep and woody.
The metal reed guard has BH on it too.
I don't know what year this came from, but I would very much like to know.
Also, I think someone told me years ago that this clarinet is made of Granidilla wood. Can anyone confirm that?
I've had the pads recovered during a full overhaul over ten years ago, and they are still perfectly white and pristine. The guy who did the work told me to do fishskin because that was what was originally on my clarinet.
So yes, I'm just letting you know that there are in fact 926 Imperials and they are fantastic.
Thanks!
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-03-23 01:10
Melody,
Hi, your Boosey will not have a metal ring around the very bottom of the bell. Boosey 1010s and 926s had a 'double groove' carved into the wood.
The instrument will be African Blackwood (grenadilla).
And finally the original pads for these instruments would have been brown leather so your tech was mistaken.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2009-03-23 16:04
Boy that is one beauty that Clinton A on this site...
David Dow
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-03-23 19:59
The 1010's were always fitted with brown leather pads (originally by Gordon Beeson I believe) but all the 926's I have seen (including one I own from 1979 and still with original pads) had skin pads fitted from new.
Of course many players often had leather fitted on repads.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-23 20:18
And B&H stuck them in with Evo-Stik!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-03-23 21:50
Norman,
Thanks for the info. I just assumed 926s had leather just like the 1010s as I had seen so many as a teenager with leather pads.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: leppard
Date: 2009-09-28 10:12
I have a pair of 1010 clarinets. Each has Symphony 1010 on upper joint and bell. B flat is 480953 1967, A is 183571. The A has the better sound but more difficult to play in tune. B flat is shriller and has Atkins? mod on lower joint.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-09-28 11:08
The Bb is from the late '70s so won't have the same depth of tone as earlier 1010s.
The Acton vent is handy to have as that does clear the lower register B and also makes the altissimo C#-D#/Db-Eb much simpler - play top C#/Db as normal (oxx|xxo) and lift RH1 for the D#/Eb (oxx|oxo) - you may not need to open the Ab/Eb key for the D#/Eb. On clarinets without the Acton vent fitted, the D#/Eb is best in tune with only the full fingering oxx|xo,oAb/Eb.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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