 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetqween
Date: 2002-07-09 17:56
Hello all-
I am doing some cataloging a research at the good ol' Shrine to Music Museum and I was wondering if any of you had ever come upon an Albert System clarinet that was distrubuted by Rudolph Wurlitzer CO. out of Cininnati, Ohio. The dates as far as I can tell puts it between 1890-1914 for the ditrubution of this instrument. I was just wondering if any of you had seen one of these because I am trying to determine the pitch of the instrument. Your insights would be helpful thank you.
-ClarinetQween
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-07-09 20:40
You need to examine the instrument carefully, which I'm pretty sure you have already done, ClarinetQween, for any markings other than Wurlitzer's imprint and/or serial number. Many instruments of that vintage are marked, not always prominently, Bb, C, A so you don't have to guess.
Without that convenience, it's still easy enough to determine the pitch, if you can make it produce an open G. Just match that to a tuner, or an in-tune modern piano etc. If its sound matches the F, it's a Bb pitch - if it matches the G it's a C pitch. An A pitch clarinet's G will match the (piano's)concert E. You'll also know right away if it's comparatively sharp, flat or in tune; hence, whether it's an HP or a LP (or not) - more or less Albert system Wurlitzers show up on eBay, not frequenty but often enough that they're available if you're patient. Most of the ones I've seen on eBay are standard pitch Bb/s.
Length measurement will also give you a pretty good, but general, idea of what pitch it is - Bb, C etc. - but not very accurate for determining the HP/LP characteristic.
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Author: Clarinetqween
Date: 2002-07-09 22:03
Well we found onther Wurlitzer that was clearly marked "A" (it was an A HP) on the barrel and the bell. There were a lot of different things about this clarinet however.
The one that we are still trying to figure out has no tone markings (whether it is A, Bb etc.). There are some reasons why it cannot be imediately played (The barrel for one) even to get out the g1 tone.
-Clarinetqween
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-07-10 06:54
Well, ClarinetQween, looks like a dilemma to me :|
Can you find another barrel that will fit? Most repair shops have a box of barrels and such. You might find something that would be good enough for trial. At least that would classify it as an A or a Bb -- or a C if it's significantly shorter than a standard Bb. Beyond that, I hope someone here has more suggestions. I don't.
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