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Solid Key Clarinet

Author: Fire99
Date: 2011-06-07 09:12

Hi all,

This is my first post so firstly hi everyone, secondly please be gentle! :-)

I hope someone of knowledge can help.

I've an E.J Albert Clarinet which was given to my by my Grandfather and I first played it 30 years ago. He played it around the time of World War II, so it has a lot of sentimental value.

Anyway it is marked up as E.J Albert and also stamped J Heyworth and Sons.

The unusual feature is that my Grandad said it was a 'Simple Fingering' system but it has solid keys (more like my sax) and no open holes.

It is still a B flat instrument.

So if anyone can shed any light, that would be great.

Many thanks,

Nik

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Re: Solid Key Clarinet

Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-06-07 11:21

It's a covered hole simple system - only difference being all the fingerholes (and thumb hole) have fingerplates on them instead of open holes or tonehole chimneys.

The fingering is exactly the same as Albert/simple system but these are better suited to players who have trouble with the stretch as the toneholes are further apart on Albert/simple systems than Boehms - so they're ideal for players with small hands or narrow fingers and also for players with arthritis or hand injuries.

There are covered hole Boehm systems as well - I know someone over Brighton way with a Jacques Albert closed hole clarinet. Leblanc made them (one of the various LL models) and also less expensive (but still more expensive than a standard clarinet) ones from Vito and Noblet. Malerne have made them in the past under various different names. My first sax teacher had two of them - one (I think it was Italian) had pearl finger buttons and his other was a Couesnon.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Solid Key Clarinet

Author: Fire99
Date: 2011-06-07 11:24

That's brilliant Chris.

Thanks alot.

As a matter of interest, is there any way of working out approximately how old this Clarinet is.

I know it must be the latest, late 1930's as my Grandad had it in WW2 but is there any way of approximating?

thanks,

Nik

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Re: Solid Key Clarinet

Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-06-07 11:54

I can only assume J. Heyworth was a UK agent or distributor for them, so it is either from the very late 1800s up to (as you said) the 1930s - sorry I can't be any more specific than that.

It may also have L.P. (Low Pitch) stamped on the joints if it's built to 440Hz - H.P. (High Pitch) stamped ones were built to 452Hz and mainly used in Military bands and can't be played alongside L.P. ones.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Solid Key Clarinet

Author: Fire99
Date: 2011-06-07 11:59

That's fine Chris,

Thanks ever so much for your replies.

Nik

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Re: Solid Key Clarinet

Author: spage
Date: 2011-06-08 08:57

Langwill has
Heyworth WWI fl Blackpool 1906-pl1950.
Importers, dealers. 1906 established by Jack Heyworth; later, with his son William, as 'Heyworth & Son'; agent for E.J. ALBERT clarinets; employed the trade name 'Lucien Bassi' for cheaper models.
MARK: (star) /E.J. ALBERT/BRUSSELS/HEYWORTH & SON/SOLE AGENTS/BLACKPOOL-PARIS/LONDON/(star)

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