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 Help id French clarinet with unique feature (locking pivot screws)
Author: greatlakeswinds 
Date:   2022-09-29 20:03
Attachment:  IMGP0143.JPG (1735k)
Attachment:  IMGP0144.JPG (1847k)

Hey everyone! I was hoping someone here might be able to help me identify the manufacturer of an interesting clarinet I recently obtained. There is no brand name, nor serial number anywhere on it. It is stamped "Made in France" on both joints with a letter "G" below. Those are the only markings I can find. It seems to be of decent quality. It has an all wood body with a very attractive, slightly brown, grain. The keys are silver plated, not nickel.

The thing that really caught my eye though was an interesting distinguishing feature that I think might hold the key to its identity...it has locking screws on all of the posts with pivot screws. I've also heard these called 'grub' screws. Basically it is a second screw which goes into the post perpendicular to the screw that actually holds the key on. It is there for the purpose of 'locking' the main screw in place so that it doesn't back out. Conn used these on their saxophones (and some clarinets) for a long time, but this obviously isn't Conn if it was made in France. Also, these locking screws have much larger screw heads which end up sitting outside of the post. This type of screw is also used for locking some of the posts (on the lower joint) in place to keep them from turning when spring tension is applied.

So, does anyone have an idea of who may have made this? Is it anything special, or just another 'no name' French clarinet? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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 Re: Help id French clarinet with unique feature (locking pivot screws)
Author: Tony F 
Date:   2022-09-29 20:39

Selmer used these locking screws. I'm not sure if this one is actually a Selmer.

Tony F.

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 Re: Help id French clarinet with unique feature (locking pivot screws)
Author: greatlakeswinds 
Date:   2022-09-30 21:18

Tony F wrote:

> Selmer used these locking screws. I'm not sure if this one is
> actually a Selmer.
>

Thanks for the reply Tony...do you know on what model(s) Selmer used these types of screws? I was just checking pics online and couldn't find any that appeared to have such screws...

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 Re: Help id French clarinet with unique feature (locking pivot screws)
Author: stevesklar 
Date:   2022-10-01 15:49

I saw this when you first posted it. And looked around.

But in looking more closely at the pictures I was thinking that the pivot locking screws *and* the post locking screws were added to the clarinet.

I think the pivot locking screws were added as there are many key rods that are short - look at the long C keyrod - the top has a huge gap. And thus post locking screws to keep the posts in place as the rods are short(ened).

Here's a few identifiers to figure out the clarinet.
It has the Throat Bb adjuster, and separate posts
But it has a flat sheet trill key guide.
and the lower ring keys, the ring arms, the body appears to have cutouts for the arms as the mechanism is close to the body ?? Also look at the ring key posts, the bases are totally different.
Top pad cup arm appears to be curved.
Also does the upper joint C#/G# key have a flat spring?

maybe someone put together a clarinet from spare parts and had to add all the locking screws to keep it together.

==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information

Post Edited (2022-10-01 17:22)

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 Re: Help id French clarinet with unique feature (locking pivot screws)
Author: Tony F 
Date:   2022-10-02 02:00

http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=481538&t=481538
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=118610&t=118531
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=376508&t=376508

Tony F.

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 Re: Help id French clarinet with unique feature (locking pivot screws)
Author: stevesklar 
Date:   2022-10-02 06:17
Attachment:  conn1.jpg (15k)
Attachment:  conn2.jpg (55k)
Attachment:  conn3.jpg (99k)

It's probably a Conn as they have the same indicators.

But the set screws should be tiny headless screws. Pivot screws look wrong too. All those screws on the OPs have heads on them. They're easy to lose, and hard to replace. Plus all the other problems that one can clearly see. Looks like a Conn "parts special".

See the attachments for examples on various keys of tiny set screws.

==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information

Post Edited (2022-10-02 06:21)

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 Re: Help id French clarinet with unique feature (locking pivot screws)
Author: m1964 
Date:   2022-10-02 21:26

stevesklar wrote:
"Also look at the ring key posts, the bases are totally different."

Perhaps the upper post needs to be locked because it has the spring, but the lower post does not need locking...



Post Edited (2022-10-03 03:56)

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 Re: Help id French clarinet with unique feature (locking pivot screws)
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2022-10-03 19:25

It does look very Malerne-like with those wide flanged pillars and Malerne made some clarinets for Conn, only they didn't have grub screws to lock the point screws in place. Conn grub screws were headless on instruments fitted with them. Maybe someone added these locking screws at some point. The pillar locking screws on Malernes were normally cut into the edges of the pillar base flanges rather than being drilled directly through them.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

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