 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: flon_klar
Date: 2004-10-14 15:15
I have an apparent Kaspar mouthpiece that I acquired over 30 years ago when I was a student. I know (or remember) nothing of its history. I have read all the standard online articles on the subject, but the more I read, the less I am sure of what I actually have. Is there any way to definitively identify my piece, both in terms of origin and authenticity, as well as market value? Any assistance is appreciated. Thanks.
[ Your 2nd posting was deleted. Please do not "bump" posts to the top. - GBK ]
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Author: oxfeely
Date: 2004-10-14 21:06
Try contacting Rick Sayre - he studied mouthpiece workmanship with Kaspar, so he might be able to help you out.
Otherwise, contact Clark Fobes - he is quite a historian when it comes to Kaspar mouthpieces.
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Author: oxfeely
Date: 2004-10-14 21:21
GBK -
You seem to have been around enough clarinetists to have picked up a few tid-bits of information. When flon_klar asks sincerely for help in his (assuredly expensive) Kaspar quest, help him out by availing him of your considerable knowledge in the matter. Don't belittle his appeal to our community by shutting down his post, and publicly accusing him of "bumping" or any other techno-term that is currently in vogue.
flon_klar - contact me directly if you need extra info on your topic.
Post Edited (2004-10-14 21:26)
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Author: flon_klar
Date: 2004-10-14 21:33
I apologize for the bump. I was merely attempting to re-ask the question with a "please."
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Author: oxfeely
Date: 2004-10-14 21:36
Apologize for nothing!
Trumpet your question for all to hear or ignore as they choose!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-10-14 22:40
Oxfeely;
[ Bumping of posts are not permitted. If no one responds to a specific question, or there is no interest, a thread will scroll off the first bulletin board page.
This message, as all messages do, will scroll off the page in accordance with its popularity. If no one posts answers, it rolls off to the preceding page, etc.
It's the way we want the bulletin board to work - posting just to pop something up to the top again (with no addition to the content) will bring about a personal admonition from either myself or Mark C - GBK ]
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Author: flon_klar
Date: 2004-10-14 23:05
Yes, Vytas, it looks exactly like that except it says "Frank Kaspar Co." and "Chicago" instead of "Cicero."
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2004-10-14 23:48
GBK,
*Rules suck!*
oxfeely,
*Read the damn Rules!*
Vytas,
*Stop it!*
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-10-15 02:25
I remember a student of mine who spent all his time looking for the perfect Kaspar, by the time he finished university after leaving my studio he found one finally....
I soon found out recently he quit music....
I suspect if he spent more time enjoying the clarinet and less worrying about the perfect set up(does not exist) he may still be playing the clarinet...
David Dow
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2004-10-15 05:49
flon_klar,
Your label sounds identical to the Chicago Kaspar 14 I have played for over 40 years. If you've had yours for over 30 years, it's probably authentic. Thirty years ago, I doubt it would have been worth the trouble to make a counterfeit. The Kaspars (uncle and nephew) worked in Chicago before splitting up and moving -- one to Cicero and the other to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Thus your mouthpiece is older than the one in Vytas' pictures. If it has the "one up, three down" ligature line configuration shown in Vytas' photos (mine does, BTW), it was probably made from a Chedeville blank. That tends to increase market value. The market value of these mouthpieces (on eBay, anyway) seems to run from around $300 to $500 and up. Condition is an important factor (discoloration, tooth marks and ligature scratches can significantly reduce the market value). Also, if the mouthpiece has been refaced, the eBay price can drop considerably below the $300 mark.
My personal opinion is that the high prices are explained more by the fact that these mouthpieces have become collector's items than their playability. IMO, a good Kaspar can be a very fine mouthpiece, indeed -- as I said, I've played mine for over 40 years. But, again IMO, Kaspars in general don't play any better than a good mouthpiece from a current maker (including but not limited to Greg Smith, Charles Bay, Clark Fobes, James Pyne, etc.) After all, current makers have had the work of the Kaspars to study and improve on. And mouthpieces from any of these makers are available for a fraction of the cost of a Kaspar.
If you already have a Kaspar, you will undoubtedly get alot more for it than you paid. My advice, however, is if you don't need the cash right away, hang onto it. It will likely continue to appreciate.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-10-15 14:06
flon_klar -
I have an identical Chicago Kaspar, which I got for $25 around 1960. It started out as a # 15. After lots of playing, the facing got worn, and I had Everett Matson true it up, at the same time reducing the opening to a # 14. It still plays wonderfully. I keep it as a souvenir/backup. If the eBay price reaches $1,000, I may let it go.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-10-15 14:58
I've had several of the Chicago Kaspars and sold them on eBay. I wish I had kept one because I loved it--especially the Chicagos. The last one I sold brought about $750.00. I had paid what I thought was a premium for it at $550.00.
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