 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2007-06-30 15:01
I would be really interested to have more information about a clarinet I have recently bought. I know there are some experts in the field on this forum
It is a Silver King, one piece metal clarinet. It has a barrel showing it is A443. I guess it originally would have had a second, A440 barrel. Serial numbers are on the instrument - at the top and underneath one of the keys and are the same. It is 1109xx.
Reading websites suggest some were made with a sterling silver bell, and could be identified by the sterling mark on the bell. I have no idea what the sterling mark is though! Mine has a mark similar to £ sign at the back of the bell. It also has a gold wash in the bell.
It is in as near mint condition as I can imagine, with new pads and corks, and Steve Howard is setting it up for me now. Excellent condition original case too. Photos can be available to anybody interested.
I am particularly interested to know its of age, the materials it is made from, views about its quality and value (would be of interest but no intention of sale) and any other general information
Chris
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-06-30 15:59
One of the better metal clarinets. Gold wash on a few. Metal was used extensively in the 20s and 30s. They sounded great to me. The principal of the Allentown Band played one, a CB Silva-Bet I believe, into the 1950s
richard smith
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2007-07-01 03:26
Thanks fo rthe opportunity to view some pictures of this one. According to the Music Trader website, it was made in the late 1920s.
http://www.musictrader.com/serialnos.html
If you have look around the web much, likely you have already seen the H.N. White company page. It keeps getting expanded each time I look in. Needless to say, I wish other makers would do something similar.
http://www.hnwhite.com/second%20page.htm
It is not clear to me whether all Silver Kings have the sterling silver bell or just the ones that are marked, like yours. The rest of the body is brass with silver plating -- I am pretty sure. Most pro metal clarinets were nickel with silver plating. Starting in the late 1930s, H.N. White began introducing what they termed "silver lined" clarinets. I have no idea whether this simply was a heavy plating or some process that put a solid silver tube inside the brass one. I am not about to saw my Microsonic in half to find out. I seriously doubt that any of this makes any difference in how well the clarinet plays. [take the bell off of your regular clarinet and play. Only a few notes at the bottom of each register will sound different. Wood vs plastic vs metal hardly makes a different -- why would silver 'lined' vs silver plated make any difference.)
The first Silver Kings shipped with a skinny looking barrel that was similar to the one always provided with the American Standard model. Very quickly, they shifted to the double walled design that you have. A little later, they also doubled the lip on the bell. In the 1940s, they offered an adjustable barrel (which I have not had the opportunity to try.) From the very few that I have tried, I think the early models and the late models had the same basic key work & layout and played about the same.
You are correct in surmising that they shipped some clarinets with two barrels, one marked 440 and one that was slightly shorter and tuned to A=443. You will pull yours out slightly and be happy with the sound & pitch. Or, if you are taking solos, you might leave it in to rise above the band at tad.
Your instrument also has the articulated C#/G# key which both allows slightly better placement of the key vent and a second trill key. Based on what shows up on eBay, I think they sold more of that model than the standard one. I could check my notes -- since 2003 almost 150 Silver Kings have been auctioned on eBay. No question, it was one of the most common of the pro metal clarinets -- certainly many people thought it was one of the best.
One of the more interesting features is the way the right hand pinkie keys operated. Probably you have noticed that there is no crow foot like most other clarinets. Instead, there some extra key work that directly holds down the F# and F pad. This allows an adjustment screw to be used on the F# key, rather than fiddling with cork on the crow foot & bending keys.
Once you get it back from the shop, let us know what you think of it as a player.
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2007-07-01 09:24
Thank you for such fantastic information. All I really found out from my searches was from the website www.silver-clarinet.com
I had not come across the HN White site at all - not sure what keywords I used for Google! And also failed in my search for serial number chart - so thank you for both.
The serial number (assuming one can average a five year production as an equal production each year) puts the instrument at 1928/29 but it looks fresh from the shop (unlike my Buescher TT soprano which is only 2 years older.....)
I had noticed the mechanism instead of the crows foot. The adjusting screw on mine goes down to cork on the key below. Not sure how long a screw on cork holds regulation, but Steve will no doubt sort that out as necessary.
I will certainly post again when it gets back from being set up, but knowing how busy Steve is, I am not expecting to be reunited with it for a few weeks yet
Thank you again for taking the time to post such a comprehensive reply
Chris
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Author: Ray
Date: 2007-07-01 15:27
I have a Silver King (22999x) that dates to 1939, a very nice player. It is pretty beat up in that there is a lot of pitting and some serious scratches on the tube. The bore looks perfect! (The worst scratches are on the player's right side of the tube between the low E pad and the bell. A weird place.)
None of the pits nor scratches show any brass, so I think the tube may be German silver.
As Jim points out the G# and low E mechanisms are very nicely done. I wonder why those designs died out. The G# probably requires a single tube body but the E adjustment seems superior to the current designs.
My clarinet has the letters N.F. and U.S. engraved on the bell. There is no mark that would indicate sterling silver. What do those letters mean?
Thanks,
Ray
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2007-07-01 17:21
The purpose of the cork under the adjustment screw is to quiet the mechanism. Chances are it will work and wear fine.
Several makers marked horns with "U.S." to denote instruments sold the the military. Other letters usually indicated the service. "USQMC mean the quatermaster corps, which I think meant army. Several have been around marked "NP" which probably meant "Navy" something (patrol?)
I think I have seen some brass or copper on one horn but that was at the top and may have been only one piece. I am inclined to agree that the horns most likely are plated over German Silver, which of course is mostly nickel and contains no actual silver.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-07-01 17:53
German/nickel silver contains less nickel than copper and zinc - only around 10% is nickel, so it's more or less brass with some nickel. Some older nickel silver alloys have lead in them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2007-07-01 18:42
Chris P wrote:
> German/nickel silver contains less nickel than copper and zinc
> - only around 10% is nickel, so it's more or less brass with
> some nickel. Some older nickel silver alloys have lead in them.
>
I didn't know that.
Ready for a stupid question?
What colour is German/nickel silver? I'm guessing it is silver coloured! Is it the same metal that many clarinets' keywork is made from? What will the keywork on the Silver King be? It has a very brilliant shine.
Chris
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-07-01 19:19
Nickel/German silver is a very pale yellow/green/grey colour, much lighter in colour than brass (which looks like gold when polished), but the keys will be silver plated on your King clarinet.
On old Buffets, Leblancs and Selmers you will find unplated nickel silver keys and fittings, but it will tarnish to a dull yellow colour over time. Silver (and nickel) plating protects the nickel silver from wear, and the polished finish lasts longer.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2007-07-02 10:57
Thanks Chris P
My old Evette and Schaeffer is just as you say.
Saw this on the HN White site. Good copy of original advert
Sorry, don't know how to make the link active. You will have to copy and paste
www.hnwhite.com/King/Clarinets/1931%20White%20Way%20Catalog%20Clarinet.jpg
Chris
Post Edited (2007-07-02 10:59)
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