 The Bassoon BBoard
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Author: Marclin
Date: 2008-02-09 22:49
I would appreciate any help or information pertaining to a Boosey and Hawkes Imperial model bassoon, S/N 87238.....When was it made and did B&H make the instrument in England or somewhere in Europe?
axel33@bellsouth.net
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-02-22 14:17
I think these were probably made by Schreiber.
Have you got any photos?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Marclin
Date: 2008-02-22 23:17
thanks for insight.....I'll try to get a few suitable photos available if that will help...
axel33@bellsouth.net
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2008-03-31 22:36
I'm almost certain that the Imperial bassoon was actually made in Edgware London by B&H - the serial number would indicate about 1953 and I'm sure there was no tie up with Schreiber that far back. Also B&H used the same sequence of numbers for virually all it's woodwind so oboes, clarinets and bassoon (and from about 1950 flutes) were allocated a number from a single list in sequence as they were manufactured. I still have one B&H clarinet ser no 82xxx which I purchased second hand in about 1957/58.
Instruments "made for" B&H by other manufacturers had totally different ser no ranges.
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Author: Marclin
Date: 2008-04-01 12:19
Thanks for the information....very useful.....CS
axel33@bellsouth.net
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2008-04-01 21:33
Proof at last!! Page 31 of B&H 1957-8 Woodwind Book shows a photo of the handcraft section at Edgware works and in background clearly seen several partially completed bassoons, some joints still in the white and some stained/varnished.
There appears to be only one craftsman in that area as opposed to at least 4 working on clarinets and 2 working I think on oboes.
Bassoon production was clearly never very large at B&H, I have only ever had one Imperial bassoon in my workshop.
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Author: Marclin
Date: 2008-04-01 22:46
you certainly are a wealth of information on this subject, all of which is greatly appreciated. .....I've been playing my bassoon for about two years now and am still getting to know it.....a bit old fashioned but a very nice sounding horn....I don"t know how it sounded with the original bocal but the Fox(with modified corking) seems to work very well...thanks again..CS
axel33@bellsouth.net
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-04-22 14:50
Do the B&H Imperial bassoons have the extra long low Bb linkage (it's either on the long joint or the bell key linkage itself that overhangs the end of the joint), so that will only fit in a case that has a special slot cut in it?
I've only seen one of these bassoons, and it was in a case that was clearly not suitable for it as part of the low Bb linkage (either the bell or long joint) was trapped when the lid was shut on it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Marclin
Date: 2008-04-22 18:46
My knowledge of the Imperial is very limited but I do know that the one I play is the standard length bell joint with the one hole (Bflat) configuration. The lever arm for that key is standard in length..It fits the usual case dimensions....thanks for the comments anyway.....CS
axel33@bellsouth.net
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