 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Varied
Date: 2011-06-10 05:51
Attachment: 100_2612.JPG (391k)
Attachment: 100_2614.JPG (482k)
Attachment: 100_2616.JPG (228k)
I recently bought a used Selmer Sterling clarinet in A, and have been scouring the net trying to find out about it. In particular I would like to know what metal the keys are made out of, as they are a bit mucky in places and I'd like to try and give them a bit of a clean. I know that clarinet keys are normally nickel- or silver-plated, but these ones have quite a dull look to them, and some of the rods have gone slightly yellow with tarnish. When I last had it serviced, my repair man suggested that they were 'gunmetal', but I thought that seemed a bit unlikely? Anyway, if anyone has any ideas they would be most appreciated.
Also, while I'm at it, I've had a look at the original catalogue for the Selmer Sterling, and saw that the original barrel appeared to have the full Selmer Sterling logo on it that was used on the rest of the clarinet parts. However, the barrel that was with mine only has the words 'PARIS FRANCE' etched into it, which may suggest that it is not the original barrel as the full clarinet logo is missing? Again, I'd appreciate any ideas.
I've attached some photos of the keys and the barrel.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-06-10 09:28
Selmer Sterling (Gold Seal and some Console) clarinets were made for Selmer London by Malerne to fill a gap in the Selmer lineup - Selmer Paris only made pro level instruments at the time, so both Selmer USA and Selmer London made or supplied student and intermediate models (Selmer London instruments were usually French, Italian, Czechoslovakian or Chinese imports).
The keys aren't 'gun metal' as your repairer claims (not sure where he got that idea from, maybe he ought to find himself another career!) - they're unplated nickel silver which the majority of clarinet keys are made from but these are left unplated. This was common with all makers until the '60s when nickel or silver plated keys became standard.
It's probably a replacement barrel as the Selmer Sterling one would normally have the full logo on it, but from another Malerne (and later Marigaux) built clarinet as they made instruments for a lot of companies.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
