 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nasubi77
Date: 2012-09-04 19:18
I've scoured the internet all day and can't find a definitive answer.
I have a 1993 Buffet Crampon E-11 (not E-11 France) and I want to know if the keys are silver or nickel plated.
Thanks!
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-09-04 19:21
Depends. I've seen both. May depend on the market. (here in Switzerland you'd only get the silver plated version)
--
Ben
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-09-04 19:41
In the UK we have both nickel and silver plated E11s - the nickel plated ones were the first (following on from the Evettes) and then silver plated ones came in sometime in the late '90s. As your E11 is from 1993 I think it's more likely to be nickel plate.
If the plating looks very bright, smooth, shiny and slippery to the touch like chrome, then it's nickel. Nickel will develop a powdery bloom when it oxidises that can be wiped off easily with a polishing cloth or in the worst case, it can dull down and turn grey which is impossible to polish with a polishing cloth (but can be machine polished back to bright and shiny).
If it tarnishes and turns yellow through to brown and finally blue/black, then it's silver. Silver plate is also very 'grabby' to the touch - it has far more drag than nickel.
The only way is to compare the plating with something that's genuine silver to see if there's much of a difference in the appearance and the feel.
Nickel plate will look much darker compared to polished silver plate.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Nasubi77
Date: 2012-09-04 19:53
I thought it must be nickel because it is super shiny and smooth, even after 20 years of limited care.
There is some yellow-ish spotting on a couple of the RH pinky keys, but I think it's where the plating has worn off and not tarnish.
Thanks for your replies.
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2012-09-04 20:17
Nickel usually starts to "eat through" where as silver doesn't do this, it just becomes tarnished and can easily be cleaned.
Sounds like nickel to me from you post above.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2012-09-04 21:46
Agreed...probably nickel. Nickel can "fog" a bit as well. That may give you an indication as well.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-09-04 22:03
That's the exact type of bloom I mentioned - it looks like you've fogged the keys up by breathing on them when they're cold, but it's dry and takes more effort to wipe off.
It's also strange how some nickel plated instruments will remain bright and shiny whereas on another identical and similarly age instrument the nickel plate can turn a dull and blotchy grey.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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