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Robert Martel Clarinet

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-12-24 01:57

To Graham Elliot, Rex Tomkinson and others with knowledge of Martel clarinets.

I got an old clarinet in unplayably leaky condition because of its trademark, which is ROBERT MARTEL in a "frown" curve at the top, PARIS straight across the middle and SUPERIEURE in a "smile" curve at the bottom The left ring finger hole and the right index and ring finger holes are severely undercut. The serial number is C744C.

Mark, is there an entry for Robert Martel in Langwill?

Is this the same as Martel Freres (which is what Reginald Kell played)? If not, is it worth restoring?

Also, in a 1990 thread http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=26512&t=26477, Graham noted that the bore was larger than the current Buffet bore and needed an English-style mouthpiece to play in tune. Presumably Pillinger will know. Anyone else?

Thanks.

Ken Shaw

Post Edited (2010-12-24 19:51)

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Re: Robert Martel Clarinet

Author: clancy
Date: 2010-12-24 22:46

Unfortunately that clarinet is not the same Martel that is sought after.

I nearly bought that clarinet myself a few years ago, only after some study into Martel clarinets did I realize it wasn't what I was after.

Kell played late model Hawkes & Son clarinets (1928) which I believe were not Martel imports but copies of the original. The earlier Hawkes clarinets 1910 - 1925 were definitely Martel imports, however Hawkes stopped using them in the mid 1920s. Who knows why, no records survive. Both the originals and later made Hawkes are lovely clarinets, medium bore straight walled design.

So I cannot comment on the quality of your clarinet but it is very safe to say that it is a different maker.

As for a mouthpiece for a Martel, I use a normal French bore mpc - any bigger bore and the twelfths in the left hand will be too wide. Kells mpc which I have examined had a larger bore and didn't tune well with his clarinets. I'm told he played a very light setup which allowed for great flexibility with tuning. From what I gather, players in that period were more concerned with the musical result and were willing to fight with pitch problems, far more than we would even consider today. The wide bore English mpcs are mainly for use with the boosey and hawkes 926 and 1010, also later made Eaton Elite and Rossi wide bore.

R Wodkowski

www.ramonwodkowski.com

Post Edited (2010-12-24 23:15)

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