 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mconnor
Date: 2013-12-09 15:29
Does anyone have any information on a W H Stubbins Clarinet # A23616?
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-12-09 18:51
Is that actaully a Stubbins clarinet or is it a clarinet featuring the Stubbins Bb mechanism?
These were usually made by Leblanc mainly as one of the Noblet range.
The serial number certainly looks like a Noblet one.
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Author: mconnor
Date: 2013-12-09 21:47
It has all the markings that say Wm. H. Stubbins in a circle with an "S" in the center.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2013-12-09 23:32
To the best of my knowledge, these were all made by the Noblet works. LeBlanc marketed them as Noblets and Normandys, and some were sold by Stubbins himself as Stubbins clarinets.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-12-09 23:37
William H Stubbins was Professor of Music at The Univerity of Michigan and author of "The Art of Clarinetistry".
He was designer of the Stubbins Bb Mechanism that was taken up by Leblanc and put mainly on a range of clarinets in the Noblet label.
The serial number A23616 is within the range that Noblet used in 1973.
I think this confirms that what you have is a Noblet instrument (probably a model 45 or Artist equivalent) but with the special Bb mechanism added.
In its main feature of keywork and the "jump" trill keys it should look just like a typical Noblet.
If you look at the speaker mechanism you should find the extra tonehole that vents the speaker tube to provide a better Bb.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-12-11 18:35
mconnor wrote:
> It has all the markings that say Wm. H. Stubbins in a circle
> with an "S" in the center.
I have one of these. There is typically an engraving at the very top of the upper joint just below the tenon that say "Made by Noblet". They are good intermediate level horns that are nearly identical to the regular Noblet clarinets aside from the presence of the Stubbins mechanism. Unfortunately they aren't worth much more than a typical Noblet either and typically sell for ~$200-$300 in playable condition.
Post Edited (2013-12-11 20:23)
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2013-12-12 00:10
SteveG CT wrote:
Unfortunately they aren't worth much more than a typical Noblet either and typically sell for ~$200-$300 in playable condition.
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The same can be said for the (Noblet) Normandys with the S-K mechanism. A Normandy 208 went for less than $100 on a leading Internet auction site not long ago. I wish I would've picked it up.
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Author: Clarinet4McKayla
Date: 2014-06-10 02:23
I also have a VITO W.H. Stubbins b-flat being re-corked now. It is engraved with his logo and has his patented mechanism. Serial # A47280. I have attached a photo. Are you sure the price is only a couple hundred $? Thanks for any info.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-06-10 18:46
Your Vito with the S-K mechanism is likely from 1971. Not many were made, and even fewer survive today. The plastic Vitos of this era were made of a material that is prone to having the centre tenon snap off if the instrument is dropped. This problem gets worse as the clarinet ages. This is not an appropriate instrument for a beginning clarinetist.
I saw your photo in the other thread you posted in, and your Vito is in very nice condition from what I can see. As to value, someone with a wooden Stubbins clarinet may find your instrument of interest for playing outdoors and pay $100-$150 for the clarinet in as-found condition.
Student plastic clarinets, as a rule, only merit fixing up if you're going to use the clarinet yourself. The resale value of a fully overhauled instrument of this type may not even cover the cost of repairs--you will come out much further ahead reselling them in as-found condition.
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Author: Clarinet4McKayla
Date: 2014-06-13 01:08
Thanks for the info. The Clarinet is being re-corked and re-padded, a complete overhaul. I'm going to try to sell it after that. Thanks again for the info! I'll attach a photo when its done.- Jeff
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