 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Beth Watson
Date: 2002-03-21 18:40
My aunt has just given me her late brother's Eb clarinet, and I'm wondering if anyone might know anything about its value. It is sterling silver, made around 1935, and is engraved on the bell with the words, "The Cleveland." It has two barrels of different lengths (why?), a mouthpiece w/cover, a lyre, several 60 year old reeds (not in good condition!), ligature, and case. Below the barrel it is only one piece, no joints or removable bell. Any information would be appreciated!
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-03-21 19:31
Hi, Beth
It would be helpful if you could provide more info.
I'll start the list with some questions that come immediately to mind. I'm sure there will be more.
Are you sure it's an Eb ? (what length is it?)
Do you know what key system, Boehm or Albert, it is?
Are there any other markings on the instrument? Any at all.
If it's sterling silver there should be a lot of engraving on the bell explaining why.
Sterling silver clarinets (most likely plated) are Very rare - is there a mark to indicate that it is?
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Author: Beth Watson
Date: 2002-03-22 00:06
I'm certain it's an Eb clarinet, Boehm system. The serial number is U1115, and it has a patent number as well, #1,705,634. I tried searching the U.S.Patent website for this patent but only got blank pages. There are no other markings on the instrument. I polished the extra barrel with silver polish, and it looks just like other sterling objects that I have polished.
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Author: Beth Watson
Date: 2002-03-22 00:09
Sorry, I forgot to mention that the two barrels are 42 and 48 mm. in length. Even the ligature and lyre appear to be silver.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-03-22 00:30
In Bb, Clevelands were student grade instruments. Sterling clarinets are indeed rare; my bet would be on plating. Going strictly from memory (which is getting worse and worse every day), I'm thinking the Cleveland was a model of the H.N. White Company. If so, its major claim to fame is that it is a metal eefer - not that it is a great clarinet. My GUESS is that on ebay auction it would go for $100-$300 in decent condition (but needing pads) - depending on how much someone wanted to add a metal eefer to their collection.
All in all . . . it was a very nice gift. Hope you get it playing and enjoy it.
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-03-22 04:58
In 7th & 8th grade (early 60s), I played an old school horn that was stamped "sterling silver" just above the thumb rest. It was most likely donated to the school as I doubt if the school would have sprung for a higher quality horn when they already had tons of metal clarinets back then.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-03-22 14:09
The patent US 1,705,634 was granted to Harry Bettoney, of Boston , MA, in 1929 [I believe], of the Cundy-Bettoney Co., which made many metal clarinets [Silva-Bet being the best and many other "student" cls, 3 Star etc. So I assume that your Cleveland is what we call a "stencil" inst. [made to be labelled {by White-King} under another trademarked name] . This was [and still is] quite a common practice. So, congratulations, have fun with it, you are joining a large group of "collectors" of clarinets, [I have only 2 metals, but too-many others to count quickly!!]. Don
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2002-03-22 21:53
Beth...
To my knowledge...the only Sterling Silver clarinet made was by Haynes....H.N. White made a SILVER KING with a sterling bell. All
others were silver plated. The Cleveland was made by KING which to my understanding was "umbrellaed" by H.N. White at one time or vice
versa. At any rate...as other posters have mentioned...you have a collectible Eb that is worth only what a collector is willing to spend. I'd keep it. get it working. And have some fun.
John
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-03-23 04:00
For what it's worth, the Eb Clarinet with the best intonation I ever encountered was an old no-name silver-plated thing I played in high school. It was one of the only two no-name instruments I ever played that could be considered worth a hoot.
A metal eefer (semi-popular nickname for an Eb Clarinet) is not something seen every day. Your inability to distinguish your Clarinet from sterling silver indicates it has not suffered from a lot of wear. This is very uncommon. Most old metal Clarinets were brass, rather cheaply plated, so wear through the plating is often seen. A few were made of nickel silver (AKA German silver, it actually contains no silver at all), and fewer still of sterling silver. While it is possible to replate an old instrument, it is nowadays quite expensive and most are frankly not worth it. So an Eb which has an excellent appearance is even more rare and would likely have greater value to a collector. Good luck with yours! Enjoy it.
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Author: Beth Watson
Date: 2002-03-23 23:03
Thanks to all of you for so much good information. We took the "eefer" to the repair shop yesterday and in about two weeks will pick it up. Hopefully, we'll have a playable instrument that my daughter can have some fun with (she is an all-state bassoonist who likes to play all the other woodwinds). You have all been very helpful!
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Author: Alaric
Date: 2002-03-24 10:35
Two barrels of different length were used when 'High Pitched' instruments were still in use in addition to the Standard '440' pitch.
Not sterling silver. Don't say sterling silver...Not. Only Haynes, and the very rare double walled Selmer are sterling silver. Anything else might be a brand name, or just a part of the clarinet is sterling.
Eb clarinets, by their very nature are notorious for intonation problems. Intonation problems was the biggest complaint about silver clarinets in general. Metal changes temperature rapidly, and one thing that was done to address the intonation problems with silver clarinets was a variety of different barrels--Tunable, double-walled, or extra thick barrels are found on the better silver clarinets. For an Eb clarinet made of metal to play without intonation problems for any length of time would be amazing. The Eb clarinet is my principal instrument, and I have a perfect Bettoney silver Eb that I've thought of lacquering and turning into a lampstand--That would be it's best use. I want a double-walled Conn Silver Eb for a novelty also, but for playing Eb I don't think metal is a good idea unless you have to for a marching band in the tropics.
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