 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nicfoster
Date: 2011-07-05 20:54
Attachment: Picture 005.jpg (1672k)
Help! I recently inhereted a clarinet from my great grandfather who was a professional musician in France. I am trying to learn more about the instrument but have been so far unsuccessful. The clarinet is marked "Marigaux" with the letter "A" beneath it and Paris under that. The serial number is 1083.I know there was a line of SML clarinets, but these markings are not the same. Any ideas?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-07-05 22:01
The 'A' means 'of' - so the logo reads 'Marigaux of Paris'.
This would've been a pro model clarinet in its day (which is why your great-grandfather bought it) and in the same league as Buffet, Couesnon and Selmer at the time. I don't know when the SML partnership was formed (Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire) so this clarinet is from before this time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Jack Stewart
Date: 2011-07-05 22:19
From a quick Google search it seems that the partnership was founded in 1934 or 1935.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-07-06 03:15
Oops! I keep forgetting about the wonders of the interweb!
Which orchestras did your great-granddad play in?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-07-06 04:13
You might want to contact Marigaux and see if they have any of the old records. They are still in business and reportedly make some of the best oboes on the market. It's unfortunate that they don't make clarinets anymore as by most accounts their clarinets were of superb quality. Here's their contact info:
http://www.marigaux.com/en/contact
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Author: nicfoster
Date: 2011-07-06 15:23
I'm not sure which orchestra he played in...will have to do some more digging. I did contact Marigaux--they indicated they would check with some of the older staff to see if they could get any info.---not sure why they don't have a record of the serial numbers--seems rather odd. I played the clarinet many a year ago but don't remember how to tell the difference between a b flat and A clarinet?
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-07-06 16:28
Play a mid-staff C. When your tuner shows a concert Bb, then it's a Bb clarinet, when it shows a concert A, it's an A.
Or, when assembled, a Bb clarinet is roughly 26 inches long from mouthpiece tip to bell. An A clarinet is about 1.5 inches longer.
--
Ben
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-07-06 16:46
Another way to tell is to play the same mid-staff C on the clarinet, and check it against a piano. If the corresponding note on the piano is a B-flat, that's what you have. If it sounds lie an A, then you have an A clarinet.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: nicfoster
Date: 2011-07-06 23:14
Thanks...def. an A clarinet and wondering if that is the reason for the marking (???). Still waiting to hear back from the company regarding the serial number and would love to hear from any other Marigaux clarinet owners...One more question...what is a good way to determine the condition of the instrument? It's been in storage for at least 50 years I imagine.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2011-07-07 18:23
Having it checked over by a competent repairer is the only sure way to be certain of it's condition
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