 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: klarenet
Date: 2007-06-10 19:28
I recently picked up a pair of old wooden clarinets at an antique mall. I don't know much about vintage instruments and would greatly appreciate any information anybody could tell me about them (age, value, etc) and if they're worth restoring.
The first is an Albert system B-flat Buffet marked "made in France, HPA." The serial number is X18 and then a chip in the wood that I believe obscures the last digit. The barrel on this one is terribly cracked, but the rest of the body is in pretty good shape aside from all of the corks being dead. It has roller keys on the right and left hand pinky "clusters" (only two keys on each cluster).
The second is an Albert system A Penzel & Muller New York. It is marked "LP" and there is a "B" marked on the barrel. The bell is a reddish color, possibly rosewood? I cannot find a serial number on this clarinet, and on the back are a scripted A and L. This too has tenon and pad problems, but I don't see any cracks. There are roller keys on the pinky clusters and there is a third pinky key for the left hand as well as a roller key on the C#/G#.
The open Gs on both of these instruments sound very round and full, and I'm dying to hear what they'd sound like in playing condition, but I'm not sure if I should invest the money to have them fixed.
I also picked up a very cheap complete metal G.L. Otterol clarinet that I was thinking about converting into a lamp. I just want to check and make sure I wouldn't be converting into furniture a nice instrument.
Thank you for your help!
Karen
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-06-10 19:40
> I just want to check and make sure I wouldn't be converting into furniture a
> nice instrument.
Just be careful with the electricity. Metal instruments are wonderful conductors...
The "lamp" project always reminds me of Roald Dahl's "Parson's Pleasure"...
--
Ben
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Author: klarenet
Date: 2007-06-10 19:45
Well, hopefully I'm not breaking up the equivalent of a piece of Chippendale...
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-06-10 20:57
Hi Karen - From what you have said [about all 3], I'd conclude re: #1 that the HPA means High Pitched cl in the key of A, which of course is playable by itself but not with low-pitch insts, prob. being somewhere between a "modern" Bb and A. It might be tunable-playable with some notes needing "lipping"?? The B on the barrel could mean Bb, possibly an attempt to tune it to ?"something"?? #2, is it an A also?, the LP prob. means its tuned to ?maybe? 435 cps [Hertz], and "sounds" more worthy of a "playable" restoration than #1 [appearance/display ?only?]. Your G L O might be on Jim Lande's current list of "sold" metals, if not ask him about it, he knows the most about them and we are fortunate to have his expertise available. John Butler would be my recommendation for antique cl restoration, of course there are quite a few of us nuts. Much luck, hope there is more "chatter" here, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: klarenet
Date: 2007-06-11 20:43
Yes, the second clarinet is an A. Thank you very much for your help!
Karen
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