 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Niethamer
Date: 2012-12-31 15:54
Hello all, Happy Holidays!
A colleague, who is now a keyboard player and choir director, gave me a wooden Selmer clarinet that he played as a kid growing up in the NYC area. It is a wooden clarinet, and the body is in good condition (no cracks that I could see) although it is in serious need of cleaning and re-padding.
I've checked the archives, and the Selmer serial number list on woodwind.org, but don't find exactly what I'm looking for.
The serial number of my instrument is K9999. The Selmer list shows no "K" listings, only numerical listings up to 9999 (1931, which seems a bit old, given the age of my colleague). So, I wonder if anyone can tell me if this "K" designation changes the age of the instrument from what is listed on woodwind.org, and whether this instrument is one of the "Centered Tone" or "Balanced Tone" (or some other designation). If it were to be cleaned up, it would be desirable to any player who was looking for a Selmer clarinet of about that age.
Thanks for any information that anyone can provide.
David
David
niethamer@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/index.html
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-12-31 16:07
1930-1931 is the right age for K9999 - it's most likely a 'Radio Improved' or 'RI' clarinet which is before the BT and CT. Chances are he bought the clarinet used - my first set of Selmers were from 1949-1950 and I was born in 1972, so it's not uncommon to have a much older instrument than yourself. My current Selmers are from 1958 and 1962 as these are the instruments I like playing.
More info on Selmer clarinets here: http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clsnSelmerParis.htm
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2012-12-31 16:12)
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-12-31 16:22
David Niethamer wrote:
> The serial number of my instrument is K9999. The Selmer list
> shows no "K" listings, only numerical listings up to 9999
> (1931, which seems a bit old, given the age of my colleague).
> So, I wonder if anyone can tell me if this "K" designation
> changes the age of the instrument from what is listed on
> woodwind.org, and whether this instrument is one of the
> "Centered Tone" or "Balanced Tone" (or some other designation).
> If it were to be cleaned up, it would be desirable to any
> player who was looking for a Selmer clarinet of about that age.
This is an older Selmer clarinet that pre-dates both the "Centered Tone" (started with late N-series serial numbers) and the "Balanced Tone" (started in the mid L-series serial numbers). This one likely dates to around 1930. Is there anything stamped underneath the Selmer logo on the upper joint? If this is indeed a "named" model it will most likely be stamped "R.I." (Radio Improved) given the late K-series serial number. It is also just as likely that it will not be stamped with anything other than the basic Selmer logo.
The K-series Selmers are considered to be desirable by those of us who appreciate vintage clarinets. I own one myself and it is a fine player. If your clarinet is in good shape I don't think you will have much difficulty selling it if that is your aim. Keep in mind that based on your description it will need a complete overhaul in order to become a playable instrument so it will need to be priced accordingly.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2012-12-31 20:10
Amazing serial number (9999)!!!! I own many old Selmers and my "K" is the best one of them all!
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2012-12-31 20:38
Nice find, David! If you have any other friends getting rid of K series Selmers, send them my way!
And you want to unload that one, I'll gladly pay postage if you want to send it to me.
Like Chris P, I was born in 1972, and also play a Selmer older than myself (a 1955 CT is my main horn).
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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