 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jpt0507
Date: 2013-08-26 23:45
I acquired an old clarinet about 4 months ago and I have searched every since to find out what kind it is. The serial number is "B 3520" and it says "Made in France" and that's it. No other marks or stamps are anywhere on the horn. Not even a wore off unreadable stamp. NOTHING. If anyone has any idea of who made this clarinet please let me know. Being a clarinetist, now more as a hobby, for 20 years I have never came across a clarinet that plays more beautifully. the top joint has a metal lining, the bottom joint does not have this, but is a wider bore than most clarinets I've seen, as does the barrel. And all the numbers match. I am stumped. PLEASE HELP!
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Author: Jpt0507
Date: 2013-08-27 00:28
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Sorry I'm still figuring this site out lol. The "made in France" can't be seen on ant pics I tried to get but I did my best to take some.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-08-27 02:49
It's most likely a Malerne - they made ebonite bodied clarinets with nickel silver sleeved top joints.
This one escaped being stamped with a company name (they made clarinets for tons of companies), but at least it says 'Made in France' so that at least shows its origins.
More info on Malerne here: http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clsnMalerne.htm
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-08-27 12:09
I'm an amateur and no expert, but fwiw, I agree with Chris P that the keywork on this clarinet sure does look like Malerne. Jpt0507, you don't mention what this clarinet is made out of, but it looks to me more like plastic than rubber. (Usually the rubber clarinets are shiny and turn a bit greenish over time and I don't see a green look on your instrument.)
Other companies besides Malerne put metal sleeves in upper joints of clarinets, but that metal sleeve from companies other than Malerne usually means the clarinet is made of hard rubber. You can tell the difference by rubbing your fingers hard and very fast, maybe on the inside of the bell, for about ten seconds, then sniffing your fingers. If the clarinet is rubber, you'll be able to smell it. No smell means plastic.
The music stores that ordered their house brand clarinets from big companies had to pay extra to get their own private brand name label put on. The big stores, such as Carl Fischer, could afford to buy the prestige of a private label, but the smaller stores would often just go with the no-name presentation or put on a removable sticker. The case looks like one of those good-quality generic ones.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Jpt0507
Date: 2013-08-27 21:37
Lelia, I did the test that you mentioned and it had a weird old smell and couldn't tell if it was rubbery, and it does have the coloration that you said as well, like an overcast greenish hue to it, my iPad just didnt catch it in the pics. Also, the place I got it from had a price sticker stuck on the bell,(which was only $35) and it left like a place on it, no damage or anything like that just a perfect rectangle of where it was like if you lifted up an area rug that has been on the floor and vacuumed over for years if that makes any sense or difference lol. Thank you both very much I really appreciate the insight!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-08-27 22:00
Ebonite has the classic rotten egg smell due to the sulphur content. It also tarnishes silver plating very well too!
Hence most ebonite bodied clarinets generally had nickel plated keys as silver plate would soon turn black because of the sulphur.
Prolonged exposure to sunlight and washing in hot water also cause ebonite to turn greeny-brown, so avoid doing both.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Jpt0507
Date: 2013-08-28 13:34
Thanks Chris! I will keep that in mind when I clean the horn! At least the person(s) who had it before me took really good care of it, it still had most of the original padding and springs and the normal wear is to a minimum. You guys are the first ones that have given me any kind of answers as to what kind of clarinet it is and I really do appreciate it :-)
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