 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Paul Wusow
Date: 1999-02-20 06:43
I just dug out my metal clarinet. It appears to be silver plated. It bears the name "THE ELKHART" in a heart-shaped engraving on the bell. (I bought this at a flea market 15 years ago for $5) I checked the archives and found that someone else had a similar question, but did not yield any answers. The serial number is 22,xxx. Does anyone know how old this is? It's in excellent condition, except for some tarnish... it has no dents or deep abraisions...
Thanks for the help!!! -paul
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-20 15:12
In general, manufacturers quit making metal clarinets in the 1940s.
The great majority of metal clarinets are from the late 1920s to the mid 1940s. They were quite popular for the student and marching band trade. With one or two exceptions, these are student grade instruments.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia
Date: 1999-02-20 16:46
Paul Wusow wrote:
-------------------------------
I just dug out my metal clarinet. It appears to be silver plated. It bears the name "THE ELKHART" in a heart-shaped engraving on the bell. (I bought this at a flea market 15 years ago for $5) I checked the archives and found that someone else had a similar question, but did not yield any answers. The serial number is 22,xxx. Does anyone know how old this is? It's in excellent condition, except for some tarnish... it has no dents or deep abraisions...
Thanks for the help!!! -paul
"The Elkhart" was Buescher's student line for many years. (The Buescher factory was located in Elkhart, Indiana, where several other major manufacturers also had factories.) I don't know whether "Elkhart" serial numbers correspond to Buescher professional model serial numbers. The 22,xxx series of professional Buescher clarinets dates from between 1910 and 1915. However, many if not most manufacturers used a different serial number series within each brand name.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Albert
Date: 1999-02-20 22:23
Most of the metal clarinets turn up to be nickel, but Bettony's are usually sterling. That's all I know. Does it still play? -Alberto
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jim lande (lande @ erols.com)
Date: 1999-02-21 03:35
I believe that most silver appearance metal clarinets were silver plate over brass. The better metal clarinets -- and many makers such as Conn, Bettoney & Selmar sold metal clarinets that were the same price as the best wood clarinets in the line -- tended to be silver plate over nickel or 'nickel silver' (which may or may not have much actual silver.) I can see where this might be discribed as 'solid silver'.
A few metal clarinets were made in the late 1940s and early 1950s -- assuming that the serial number lists are accurate. I don't think any student metal clarinets were made before 1925, so the serial number must not be from the Buescher pro line. I would bet that this clarinet was made in the 1930s or early 1940s.
Change out the pads and it may turn out to be as good as a current plastic student model. Have fun with it. These are good horns on which to learn repair skills. A little work, and they really shine.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: deltadawn59
Date: 2016-02-10 12:53
I have one of these, too. The serial number is 23,707. I don't even know if it's worth a restoration of any kind, but I am glad that someone has identified what I already suspected. It is about 100 years old, and the bell has very intricate engraving of an elk and a woodsy sort of embellishment. It just says "The Elkhart" and below that, it says Elkhart, Ind., and USA under that. Very interesting! I got this when I worked at a scrap metal yard in the early '80s. We didn't call it a recycling center back then! Occasionally, someone would bring an instrument in and sell it for scrap metal. Being a music major, I always scrambled out to retrieve them as soon as possible. I did get a nice alto sax once, and got it repaired for about $50. I gave it to my youngest brother who was playing clarinet in the band at the time. He still has that!
Post Edited (2016-02-10 12:58)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MichaelW
Date: 2016-02-11 17:01
Attachment: Silver King 2.jpg (151k)
H.N.White Silver King #109529 (1927...28):
Bell marked with Sterling sign, gold washed interior- rest of the instrument silver coated, probably German silver.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2016-02-11 17:29
Attachment: Buescher 730.jpg (1304k)
My 1929 Buescher True Tone Pro clarinet is silver plated and is the best sounding and playing metal clarinet that I have tried and I have had almost all of the pro metal clarinets. Ergonomics are stellar. Check out the photo and the gold wash bell
Post Edited (2016-02-11 19:55)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fuzzystradjazz
Date: 2016-02-12 19:08
Silversorcerer:
Perhaps the Hayne's clarinet would fall into the "silver" clarinet category. I don't see them listed very often. If memory serves correctly, I saw one listed for $7500, and the next one I saw was listed higher than that. Don't know if either sold. They are pretty though!
As I recall, the overall profile of the Haynes is smaller in diameter than the Conn double-walled metal designs.
Fuzzy
EDIT: I finally found a photo of a Haynes: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/506852
Post Edited (2016-02-12 19:14)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2016-02-13 00:06
Robertos in NYC had a Haynes a couple of years ago in mint condition for $10,000.00.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
