 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Simon R
Date: 2020-08-13 15:05
Hi there. I've just been given a vintage Bb clarinet and I'm teaching myself to play. I play guitar and I have a handmade electric one from the 70s which I did some successful research on through the serial number (I found the day it was made!). I wondered if a similar thing would be possible with the clarinet? I'd settle for the year or even decade, to be honest.
It is a Besson and it feels like it is made from Bakelite? There are various numbers on it but the serial number under the Made in England stamp just above the thumb rest is 52515. Is this the main serial number? There is also one on the other section which reads 144492. Can anybody date this? Looks like the original leather case too.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-08-13 15:19
Can you post some photos of it? The style of keywork will help determine its age and if it is a marriage of two different joints (perhaps the top joint was a later replacement).
Many Besson clarinets were in essence B&H Regents (stencilled Besson "35") and Edgwares (stencilled Besson "55", Westminster and also the 800 Academy).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2020-08-13 20:49
Use a fresh post with images or put them somewhere on the Internet and post the link.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-08-23 17:07
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/download.html/1,6831/IMG-20200823-WA0001.jpg
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/download.html/1,6832/IMG-20200823-WA0000.jpg
That's definitely a 1950s B&H clarinet (made around 1959) - it's either made from either ebonite if it's machined or bakelite if it's moulded. Even if the joints are mismatched, they're both from the same type of clarinet. Is there a '1' missing from the beginning of the lower joint serial number? 152515 would be a more age related serial number if that is the case and within the same era of the top joint's 144492 serial number. Maybe the top joint was replaced with a slightly older one if the middle tenon got broken.
It looks more like ebonite from the photos as moulded bakelite clarinets didn't come in until the plastic Regent was launched in the '60s. And with it being ebonite, the nickel plated keywork won't be affected by the sulphur fumes as silver plated keywork will tarnish black within next to no time.
It also appears to have drop forged nickel silver keywork as the wear on the G# key shows the underlying metal is pale yellow instead of turned dull grey (like lead). Some B&H clarinets had die cast mazak keywork (zinc alloy) which is a soft alloy which casts with great detail (think Matchbox cars) but will break easily if bent. The side Eb/Bb key is bent on this one and the touchpiece should be level with the side F# key.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2020-08-23 18:21)
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Author: Simon R
Date: 2020-08-23 22:05
Thanks so much, Chris. This is really useful. The cork has also worn away on the bell. At the moment I'm using sellotape but do you have any recommendation for something more airtight? PTFE maybe? Until I get it properly fixed? Most of the tone problems at the moment are down to my poor embouchure but I'm improving. I don't know if microscopic air leakage have an effect when I'm using the register key? Could just be me...
Anyway thanks so much for the information. We guessed it was post-war but it's nice to get a real sense of its provenance.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-08-23 22:11
PTFE tape is best for emergency tenon cork repairs as that won't leave any sticky residue like sellotape (or any other adhesive tape) which can be a pain to clean off. Also it can be layered and has give in it and can be added to if need be to make the joints secure.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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