 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: michael
Date: 2002-04-18 18:29
Why is it that some kaspar mouthpieces have two lines at the bottom instead of three? Does this mean that there are different blanks that have been used? I have both a chicago kaspar and an ann arbor kaspar, both made by Frank L Kaspar that have two lines on the bottom. I also have an ann arbor kaspar with three lines on the bottom that is MUCH different in feel and sound. Any help would be greatly appreciated.....
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-04-19 15:03
In addition to what Clark Fobes said in his posting Jack referred to, Kalmen Opperman told me that Chedeville made more than one model of mouthpiece blanks, and some of them were, during the last years of the company's operation, made by Lalandais. Therefore, there were probably three blanks that the Kaspars used: Chedeville, Lalandais and Babbitt.
There's enough difference in the models to account for the difference in feel that you notice, but certainly each Kaspar mouthpiece was hand-finished to play well, regardless which blank was used.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-04-19 16:50
Michael,
A couple of random comments and a question:
1. The general consensus around the internet is that "1 line up, three lines down" is a Chedeville blank. The first time I saw this, it was in an eBay listing by Dave Tuttle, a Chicago dealer (?) who sells alot of mouthpieces on eBay and *sounds* quite knowledgable. I think I have read a similar independent comment either from Jim Pyne or Greg Smith, in which case I would say Tuttle's claim is reasonably confirmed. On the other hand, I think that most such claims on eBay derive from Dave Tuttle's original comment and are not, in themselves, confirmation.
2. I just did a quick survey of "real" Chedevilles for sale or recently sold on eBay and note (in a very small sample) some with "1 line up and 2 lines down" and one with "1 line up and 1 line down." (None with "1 line up and 3 lines down.") Of course, all this proves is that there are Chedevilles with different ligature line configurations, consistent with Ken's comments above.
3. You mention that your Chicago Kaspar was made by Frank L. Is it actually marked "Frank L." or do you have other information to convince you that he made your mouthpiece. According to Clark Fobes, all the Chicago Kaspars were simply marked "Frank Kaspar Co." It would be new information (at least to me) if any were marked differently.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-04-19 22:33
The Ann Arbor Kaspars apparently we're made by Babbitt and Co.(blanks that is) and apparently we're considered a lower grade. Unfortunately when the son took over muck of the materials changed. Jim Kanter also changed at one pint due to the fact lelandais went out of business, so he swithched to Riffault blanks. However these are better in quality over the Baqbitt rubber
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-04-19 22:37
David Dow wrote:
>
> The Ann Arbor Kaspars apparently we're made by Babbitt
> and Co.(blanks that is) and apparently we're considered a lower
> grade. Unfortunately when the son took over muck of the
> materials changed. Jim Kanter also changed at one pint due to
> the fact lelandais went out of business, so he swithched to
> Riffault blanks. However these are better in quality over the
> Baqbitt rubber
The quality of Babbitt rubber being lower than others is debateable at best. There's a lot more to the blank than just the material.
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2002-04-20 01:37
Why do you think the Ann Arbor Kaspar mouthpieces were Babbitt blanks? They all seem to have been French blanks and probably Chedevilles. There have been no comments about Frank L Kaspar using Babbitt blanks. The younger Frank Kaspar, after he moved from his downtown Chicago location in the Congress Building to his home/shop in Cicero, did use Babbitt blanks for some of his last mouthpieces.
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Author: David Dow/Symphony nb
Date: 2002-04-24 02:02
The work that the Kaspars did could make any material sound fine, as for my source it was Marcellus at a masterclass in 1984 in Canada. They are fine on the Babitt blanks as well, however not as fine as the older Chedelvilles and still very fine and prized. One is so lucky tohave a proper working Kaspar.
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