 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jasmine
Date: 1999-06-11 18:44
I hear the term poly Cylenderic...in referenrence to the profile of instrument bore...but when I see measurement data it is just one size. How does this work? Is the upper joint one size and the lower another? Is it tappered? Where do profile changes start..in the barrel...or partway down the upper joint? Where can I find out more detailed info on this? Thanks Jas
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-06-11 23:41
Likely here you are asking for "manufacturing secrets" which cannot be found even in patents! Some of the big 3-4 clar makers give a bit of info in their brochures, but the best discussion I know of is in Rendall's book "The Clarinet". Prob other newer books have something to say. I recall a patent about bore character, will post it when re-found! Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-06-12 22:16
Jasmine - You may want to look at US Patents 4,245,543 and 4,430,920 and possibly 5,864,076 via http://patents,uspto.gov for the info I referred to earlier. The work of Benade is referenced. I have a LeBlanc brochure which describes the bores of the Concerto etc series as polycylindrical [at least two cylindrical sections ] "in the upper third of the left hand joint, which is characterized by a series of cylinders connected by conical, stair-step-like reductions". Further, "basic bore size refers to the cylindrical part of the middle third of the French clarinet's bore". The latter range from 14.60 mm to 15.00 mm [for the P Fountain model. What other makers do is open to question, but you can see "what a can of worms" this opens!! If other BB'ers can go beyond the above, please do. Don
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-14 16:24
I don't have specifics and I doubt of anyone else having exact technical details, but I believe Don Berger is pretty much on target for the general description of what a polycylindrical bore really is and where it's located on a soprano clarinet. The Buffet brand had it first, as I recall, because I believe that Robert Caree of Buffet invented it in the 1950s.
I personally believe (note this is just an opinion) that the polycylindrical bore helps a soprano clarinet to create a highly pleasing sound especially for classical music, which made the Buffet R-13 famous. Today, the other top manufacturers boast of polycylindrical bores and there are some of the better known handmade pro grade clarinet makers that also say they are producing clarinets with these tapered bores. I wouldn't be surprised to discover that the polycylindrical bore cutting process is a highly confidential trade secret and that any computer controlled lathe that's programmed for it would be protected as such.
The only thing that I know for certain is that my premium pro grade clarinet has this bore design and I can see that the upper joint has some taper to it on the outside. I can hear the difference in tone quality of my horn versus a student grade or intermediate grade clarinet. I have also heard my horn with 2 other pro grade clarinets with the same bore design in concert. The sound is unique and highly pleasing to the clarinetists and especially to the audience.
With all that said, if you can afford a clarinet with this feature, I personally believe it's worth the money.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-06-14 17:27
Well said, Paul, yes, Lee Gibson , in his "Claranalysis" column [The Clarinet, ICS, May/June 1995 pg 10] credits M. Robert Carree as the inventor of the P C B in 1950 [for the Buffet R 13] with all the majors following suit in their own fashion. In the 2 previously-mentioned patents to Wershnik [Munich, Ger.] there are 2 German patents and one French 1,137,138 of May 1957 which possibly is the "pioneer" [no inv. name as yet]. Also US 2,602,364 to Loney [believed for Conn?]is cited. Will try to run down more info and post it here. Quite a "hunt". Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-06-19 16:36
I found another US patent to Werschnik [previously misspelled!] 4,430,920 which gives additional info, will try to digest it. Also in Lawson, pg 29, is a table showing "main bore and bore at f hole" comparisons to go with his discussion pgs 28-30, which is the most up-to-date I've found. The figures make me wonder just who can claim being "inventor" of the PC bore [in general] or just of certain types thereof!! Mark, this entire set of posts, to my line of thinking, might be suitably retained [with corrected PC spelling] for future Sneezy reference, because their importance in design and purchasing. Don
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