The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-11-13 09:12
Apparently B-C didn't enter the American market until 1918. What brands did people play before that?
Alphie
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-11-13 13:22
Gosh, Alphie, thats a year before I was even here! My earliest recollections of cls were Conn, Bettoney, Pedler, Pruefer, Penzel [later with Mueller], my first was a no-name wood [poor]. Heard the name Selmer, and maybe other French names. Look in Rendall's list of makers and dates, and old "importers" catalogs. HELP, Don
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-11-13 13:42
Don and others
I was thinking of the big names in the US of the time, Bonade, LeFevre, Langenius and other soloists and orchestra clarinetists in those days?
Alphie
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-11-13 17:03
Buffet serial numbers go back to 1885 http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Buffet.html , and I'm sure there are older unnumbered instruments. Most of the classical players came over from Europe, bringing their own instruments.
I've read that Selmers from the early part of the 20th century were vary good. According to Ralph Morgan's Selmer history http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/Selmer.html , Alexandre Selmer's tenure as principal in Boston and elsewhere in the U.S. gave a big boost to Selmer sales. The entire Boston section played Selmer in the 1950s and 60s, and perhaps continuously from Selmer's tenure up to the time Harold Wright took over from Gino Cioffi.
I've also read that around the turn of the century, many people played Martel clarinets.
In the early 20th century, it was perhaps 50/50 Boehm and German system. Bellison in New York and Lindeman in Chicago definitely played German instruments.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-11-14 05:24
A 1912 Buffet full Boehm clarinet I have plays fine, even today. It was probably brought over from Italy as the former owner was an Italian who played in the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-11-14 14:44
Wes -
I have a Bb/A Buffet pair from 1908 (with wrapararound register keys), which play beautifully. In the case was a receipt to the original owner in Connecticut, so it was possible to order them from France at that time.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-11-15 00:22
Ken - wow they sound nice - can you load a picture of them so we can gloat?
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