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Interesting Conn

Author: charlene
Date: 2002-11-21 21:57

I've got an interesting (to me, anyway) clarinet about which I've been unable to find ANY information. It's a Conn 446n manufactured, if I'm reading the serial number system correctly, in 1933. It has an articulated G# mechanism through the top tenon of the lower joint, and the top joint has and extra adjusting screw and an extra tone hole and pad that is quite small. It's in need of an overhaul, but the little I'm able to produce on it seems to indicate promise. Anyone have any experience with or knowledge about these horns? I could contact the folks at the Conn archives, but it sounds like the volume of communication that they receive means that they will respond to scholarly inquiry only.

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RE: Interesting Conn

Author: kenabbott
Date: 2002-11-22 00:41

It sounds like the Conn hard rubber clarinet that I own. Mine has a low Bb/Eb as well as the side Eb/Bb. There have been several threads about these intruments on Sneezy. I'll bet Mark can shed some light on this, too.

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RE: Interesting Conn

Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-11-22 14:10

charlene -

The extra mechanism on the top joint is for the left-hand fork Eb/Bb. The instrument will also have an extra ring for the left ring finger. The small hole and pad is to correct the intonation, and the adjusting screw is necessary because there are three separate mechanisms controlling the pad between the left index and middle fingers:

- the pad at the top of the lower joint, controlled by the bridge key;

- the ring for the left ring finger; and

- the ring for the left middle finger, which also closes the small pad.

These three mechanisms have to be coordinated perfectly, which is a very tricky adjustment. I have two instruments with this mechanism. Both are difficult to get right and keep right.

The left-hand fork fingering is wonderful to have, but the loss in reliability is too high a price, at least for me.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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RE: Interesting Conn

Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-11-22 15:10

Our two, knowledgable Kens have given you fine descriptions to apply to your "oldie" and I agree with their analyses. I have, and have had, several old Conns myself, a mouthpiece which bears the name Zyloid, possibly Conn's tradename for their hard rubber [other plastic??] non-wood clar. material. Also, concerning the artic. C#/G#, I have a "Pupeschi-Conn",[Ser.# B 22613 H, prob. 1912] a "sort-of" hybrid cl of Boehm and [what we call] Albert systems, whose feature-of-interest here is the LACK of a separate "touch" for this mechanism, its being actuated by the "long" left L F keys! I have a copy of P's patent and info provided by Al Rice, Claremont Curator, all of the Italien still not translated! SO, my question is, does your cl have the SEPARATE touch for the artic. [like our modern cls, with extra keys], or is it an older? Curious! The Shrine to Music [has new name] has a number of Conns and info. Don

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