 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: HomersEmu@hotmail.com
Date: 2002-12-27 05:21
Hello all! I recently got a metal clarinet (I belive I was told a nickel silver alloy of about 80%-20%) with the only markings "American made Easy Play Superior Quality" on the bell. The guy at the store said that he thought it was made in the 20s and possibly by an extension of the Conn company (obviously built for marching as indicated by the attachable music stand). I was curious as to the history behind such clarinets and would like to from anyone who has information regarding metal clarinets, thier history and thier playing/tonal characteristics.
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Author: John Gibson
Date: 2002-12-27 14:24
Most metal clarinets are student quality and not very good. CONN did make several varieties of metal clarinets. Again not real good ones. If you find one of their "armored" models, grab it. I don't know how they play but boy are they interesting......
The H.N. White company of Cleveland made a lot of metals. The top of the line being the SILVER KING followed by it's CLEVELAND. There was another too. Between the Cleveland and the bottom of the line, it's American Standard.
SELMER also dabbled in metals. Most notably a five piece that breaks down just like wood or plastic models. Never played one but have heard they were "okay" but still didn't/don't compare to the SILVER KING.
If you're just using yours as a curiosity and playing alone, have fun. However you may not find it participates well with other players because of intonation, etc.
John
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-12-27 23:46
It is possibly a Pan American model which was one of Conn's secondary brand names. Intermediate quality at best although I have a Pan American C Melody sax from the 20's in mint condition which is great. The main difference between the Pan American C melody and the Conn of the same year, which I have tried, is the lack of rolled tone holes and slightly lighter weight metal all round. I have seen quite a number of Pan American metal clarinets made for military use and they are what they are.
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2002-12-28 06:05
Use the search tool and you will find lots of information (and even more opinions) about metal clarinets on the board. I'll bet a dimel that your instrument is silver plated over brass -- as were most student metal clarinets. Some were nickel plated. Nickel silver -- also called German silver -- is mostly nickel and contains no actual silver. Several makers used nickel silver instead of brass on their professional models and some used it for student models, as well. Penzel Muller made metal clarinets with copper bells. If you search, you will read about the solid silver Haynes models and the silver bells on the Silver Kings.
The 'Armored' Conns were plastic clarinets clad with metal. They were the highest priced model offered by Conn in the early 1930s, so I am guessing that they were relatively good. Conn had previously offered double walled metal clarinets and concurrently offered a single walled metal clarinet that was very fine quality.
Virtually all metal clarinets included a post for a music holder. I think this was because it was hard to clamp around the metal body.
Many makers offered the same horn in 5 piece, 4 piece and 3 piece configurations. (Most student models were 3 piece -- mouthpiece, barrel, and a single piece that included all the keys and the bell.) Buffet and Buescher offered pro quality metal clarinets with attached barrels but with removable bells.
There were dozens of manufacturers of metal clarinets and hundreds of models. I don't know who made your's. Conn did make lots of models that were stenciled by others or that were sold with generic names, only.
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