 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: deavt
Date: 2009-12-30 19:58
I have a clarinet that has a mouthpiece with 'Meliphone' stamped on it. It also appears to have '2900' stamped on it. Can anyone tell me anything about these mouthpieces? Are they rubber or plastic? This one was recently dropped and the tip broke off so I'd like to replace it with a similar type mouthpiece. Thanks.
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2009-12-30 20:21
The way you can tell if its rubber is to rub the back of the mouthpiece with yer thumb or finger until it gets warm and smell it, if it smells like rubber.. well theres yer answer hehe.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-12-31 13:44
My first good alto sax mp was a Meliphone Special. acquired prob. in the late 1930's for perhaps about $10, on which I played early dance band "charts" in high schoop/early college. Fair, not real good as I recall, but better than the stock Buescher mp. If I can find it I'll give you what info it has. In this time period I had several O'Brien glass mps for cls, some I still have !! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: sbrodt54
Date: 2009-12-31 18:08
In the past 20 years the Meliphone pieces were distributed by Leblanc, they have been discontinued along with another piece that I liked, the Imperial. I have never played the clarinet Meliphone pieces but the alto sax and the tenor sax pieces were quite good for a beginner or some one that has played for a bit and was looking for better intonation and tone.
They were all hard rubber with a rather high sulfur content, if they were exposed to the light much at all, they turned a rather ugly green/brown. I have tried to get the looks back with all of the suggestions you will find on this Board but with zero success, I imagine the only was would be to send them all to Dr. Henderson and have him heat treat them. The bitter taste would never come out either.
I liked them a lot but I do not know where they were made, possibly France, possibly here in the USA. Don't totally give up on the piece, if the tip is broken and it's a small chip I have in the past repaired them back to fine playing condition. Look around in your area for some repair guy that has some experience, he/she might be able to help you. Since these were never pro pieces, the cost would be a consideration. Good luck.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-12-31 18:58
TKS, sbrodt54, U've been trying to recall the maker, but believe it may have been The Woodwind Co, in NYC I believe. Help Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2009-12-31 19:13
you are very fortunate to have a rare advance copy of the 2900 model here at the end of 2009
Bob Phillips
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2010-01-01 14:58
TKS VERY MUCH, Steve S, now I'm digging for my golden oldie, to see which lay I have, and then to rry it out on my Mark VI versus my Selmer D and C*, I like the D better by the way. My [sheer] guess of $10 orig. cost wasn't too bad, well within our engineering estimates. Seeing the cl ?standard? mps, I have a couple which have the chaaracteristic "browning" and are likely of this vintage also. Will report if of interest to anyone. Regards, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2010-01-02 03:07
Most of the old Meliphone mouthpieces I've seen were made by Chedeville.
Chris
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2010-01-02 16:10
Velly interesting, Chris, I had an old alto sax pass thru my hands, so now I also posess an old Ched mp, easily distinguished by a metal ring on the bottom, presumably to prevent "neck breakage" . Beyomd the name, it has an A below, prob?? his lay designation, it seems quite close as compared with my Selmer mps. So, any info regarding his association with Woodwind [ differing lay markings] will be welconed. TKS,Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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