 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2001-11-16 23:32
kia ora
just this morning i unearthed an old Selmer Clarinet mouthpiece from the junk box at a music store. It needs re-corking, and i haven't measured the facing to see how warped etc it is, but it's in ok shape except for ligature scratches and a scratch on the baffle that is probably from a pull through (some of the older pull throughs had a metal sleeve where the string was attached to the material and this could sometimes scratch the bore, i can't think of any other way that the baffle would get a big groove in it?).
The Selmer logo is on the top of the mouthpiece, and the table is stamped with the letter "D" inside an oval.There are no other markings except for the "made in france" on the front just above the shoulder. Does anyone have any idea how old this mouthpiece might be?
donald
ps- also in the same box was an old Buffet Tenor Sax mouthpiece (rubber), and both (old) Selmer and Hite E flat clarinet mouthpieces..... plus a pair of Wurlitzer mouthpieces for reform Boehm Clarinets (unfortunately they don't play well in tune on my Buffet, but sound a bit like Pyne mouthpieces). I'm always on the lookout for a Cundy-Bettony or Evette-Schaeffer made from Chedeville blank, but down here in NZ there just don't seem to be any.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-11-19 14:38
Every good junk box should have at least one Selmer HS*, bet they made millions. The various mp designations are shown in comparison fashion in the many dealer's publications. Don
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Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2001-11-19 19:42
i've never seen an HS* that didn't have HS* stamped on it somewhere, and the only Selmer mouthpiece i've seen that had ANYTHING stamped on the table was one Ron deKant played and loved. Any dealers publications i've seen told you "didly squat" about mouthpieces other than what they cost (the Vandoren chart they give out is unusually informative, but i've never seen the likes of it from Selmer).
SO, is your reply trying to tell me that the "D" stamped on the table means it an old HS*, in which case why didn't you actually say that? Vintage rubber is pretty thin on the ground here in NZ, in the US most of the good Vintage mouthpieces have been "discovered" by now (all those Cundy-Bettony Chedevilles from the back shelf of the Pawn shop). Even in the US i met at least 2 good players (proffesionals) who swore undying love for an old Selmer (not a 1980s HS*) so i just thought for a tiny minute that maybe i'd found the BEST MOUTHPIECE IN THE WORLD that i could sell for $1000 US and then buy my whole family out of slavery.
Alas not, but still no one can tell me what the "D" means and how old it might be.
hmmmmmmmmm
nzdonald
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-11-19 22:27
Gosh and Gee Whiz, Donald, no flames please. Your D mp is shown in Column 45 of the Weiner Bb MP Chart where the VERY COMMON HS* [which is short/close to me] is in col. 38 [whatever that means, but, with some experience, it is a guide [for me] }. I have a number of Selmer mps for Bb, alto, and bass cls, and for alto and tenor sax, including untouched [old] C* and D 's for A S, the D being the wider/longer, easier playing [for what value that is to you] . I do have an old C-B [Ched???] also, which I might even donate if your family's slavery is unpleasant!! Sorry I can't help more, like others I try to make sense out of the charts and descriptions, without much success. Don
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-11-20 17:06
Donald -
The Selmer mouthpieces from the 1950s and 60s had the facing designation stamped on the table at the butt end, inside an oval. These mouthpieces have some value, if they are in good condition. Since yours has a scratch on the baffle, I don't think it's worth more than the retail Selmer price for a new mouthpiece.
Older Selmer models had the word "Table" engraved along with the facing number. These have somewhat more value.
From what I've read, the only Selmer models with real value are the ones from the 1940s or earlier that have nothing engraved on the table and have the Selmer logo on the back at the bottom (not in the middle), incised in a sunken circle and gilded. Again, condition is everything.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2001-11-20 18:32
thanks Ken- i wasn't really interested in trying to sell it, but just in knowing exactly what you have told me. Replies like that make Sneezy worth the time!
donald
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