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red colored wood clarinet from 50s?

Author: red lewis
Date: 2011-05-21 21:49

I have been researching clarinets made of reddish wood, maybe made in the late 50s or early 60s. When I was in elementary school, in the third grade I inherited my uncle's clarinet. It had very straight grain, was reddish in color (like redwood, or cedar, but not dark brown), came in a reddish brown hard plastic case (cheap though), rounded flat edges (not square or reinforced) with a leather or cord type handle. I don't recall the mouth piece being black, as I see in many pictures, but maybe it was off white. I think now looking back it must have been plastic. My family told me it was made of redwood, but now I believe it was rose wood. It was my uncle's in the early 60s. His family was not wealthy, so I can't imagine it was an expensive instrument, but thinking back now it was beautiful.

I played this clarinet through the 6th grade, made 1st clarinet in my school band, under the tutorship of Glenn Miller's brother in Pacific Grove, ca. Once entering jr. high school, I didn't think the clarinet was very feminine or glamorous, so I gave it up for a flute and a folk guitar. A few years later my parents hawked the clarinet at a local pawn shop, without my knowledge, except that I saw it there hanging on the wall one day. being young I didn't know how to go about trying to buy it back, and probably didn't have any money either. I was in love with my flute at the time, so I probably didn't feel any urgency about getting it back.

Now, I am looking for a similar clarinet, or at least want to try and identify what it might have been. any clarinet historians out there, or a place I can look? Many years later (like 50) I am having the urge to hear and feel that mellow sound. I love clarinet music.....and would love to play again....if I can!

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