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Re: Bakelite Clarinets / hybrids

Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-07-27 10:33

Amatis normally had ebonite (hard rubber) bells which turned green over time (as did the gilt paste used to fill in the logos). B&H "77" clarinets also had ebonite bells which discoloured.

Ebonite smells like rotten eggs due to the sulphur content and will tarnish silver plate black very quickly, so ebonite instruments normally had nickel plated keywork as that wasn't affected by the sulphur, but ebonite has made a huge comeback what with the more recent wave of Chinese imports. Older Chinese imports, mainly Lark and Hsinghai, were also made from ebonite.

Good quality mouthpieces are generally made from ebonite for both clarinets and saxes.

There used to be loads of old Russian clarinets and oboes on eBay, all with Bakelite bodies and presumably nickel plated Mazak keywork - I was tempted to buy one of the oboes out of curiosity.

Perhaps the heaviest woodwind instruments ever made were the older Bundy Resonite bassoons that were made entirely from Bakelite until they changed to the lighter ABS resin.

I don't know if Bundy or Vito ever made bass, contra-alto (or Vito BBb contrabass) clarinets from Bakelite, but if they did they'd also weight a ton.

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

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Bakelite Clarinets / hybrids new

Silversorcerer

2015-07-26 20:31