 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hugues Fardao
Date: 2021-01-21 00:51
Attachment: IMG_4623.jpg (1225k)
I saw on my Selmer clarinet a little 4 digit stamp on the top joint (see picture).
It's not the serial number, the serial is regulary stamped at the bottom of both joints. These numbers are different, smaller, and I saw them when cleaning the instrument when I received it at home.
What could it be ? Any suggestion ?
Thank you.
Post Edited (2021-01-21 00:54)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-01-21 01:17
That's either a factory number or the keywork mounter's number.
I had a P series Centered Tone with the date stamped on the replacement top joint in a similar fashion when it was transplanted back at Selmer's factory (and had * stamped above the serial number to denote that). Only I don't know the whereabouts of that one now as an elderly player badgered me into selling it to him back in 2000.
You'll most likely find a letter stamped on the underside of the RH E/B touchpiece as well.
On older Selmer saxes (Modele 22 to Balanced Action and Adolple Sax models) you'll also find a different number stamped at the bottom of the main body tube (between the RH3/E tonehole and joint ring) that bears no resemblance to the serial number.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Hugues Fardao
Date: 2021-01-21 02:37
Thank you very much for those informations !
And I looked the keys, as you said there is a letter, a "D", engraved under the last RH key touchpiece.
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Author: Hugues Fardao
Date: 2021-01-21 15:31
The Clarinets Direct shop suggest it could be for identifying a new style of keywork.
A musician in a french clarinet forum suggests that this 4 digits could be a number stamped for identifying a clarinet that belongs to an institution : army, choir, music school, city band, or something like that.
Thierry Doublon, from Selmer Paris, said the same thing.
Anyway, that makes the story of my old clarinet more interesting.
(EDIT : I learned today that the letter under the key is the initial of the name of the keywork mounter that worked on the instrument).
Post Edited (2021-01-21 17:30)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-01-21 18:24
That all got dropped when accountants began running the place in the '70s as things became more rationalised.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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