 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ihavetoomanyinstruments
Date: 2022-05-19 16:38
Hi everyone, how amazing to find this forum.
I found this metal Eb clarinet for sale and I’m going to take a look at it and see if it plays. It’s been in storage for 60 years, no case, and the serial number is 14448. It’s a Hawkes and Son and I’ve been doing a lot of research on the company and history.
It’s not very expensive and I’m hoping to have it restored to playable if I can. I’ve managed to find 2 separate sites that date it to just before 1900, but someone on another forum said this is unlikely (didn’t explain why).
It has a “b” marking above the serial number which I understand means it is a low pitch instrument and therefore would match modern pitches.
So - am I crazy for buying it if the keys all seem to work? Can it be restored? Is it really over 120 years old? Anyone know anything else I need to know?
Thanks in advance.
Post Edited (2022-05-19 16:41)
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2022-05-19 18:51
"...and therefore would match modern pitches."
Probably, but not necessarily.
History of Pitch
;^)>>>
Fuzzy
Edit: (Per the pics you are trying to post - perhaps further compress the images or resize them to a smaller size?)
Post Edited (2022-05-19 18:54)
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2022-05-20 11:50
That's amazing looking. Do you need very strong fingers to press the levers? They look very heavy compared to regular clarinet. My worry would be that the ergonomics would really be hard on the player's hands.
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2022-05-20 14:06
Nice. There's a serial number list here https://www.adams-music.com/en/repair_and_maintenance/serial_numbers/boosey_and_hawkes
that dates your instrument to 1901-02 so yes, it's really 120 years old.
(Hawkes merged with Boosey in 1930).
When you get it overhauled, post us some sound clips:)
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Author: Ihavetoomanyinstruments
Date: 2022-05-20 14:09
Hi Sunnydaze, no strong fingers required! It’s no more difficult than a regular clarinet. Also, it’s very light. It’s a tiny little thing.
I have a 1940 White Silver King Bb metal clarinet and it weighs no more than my wooden Leblanc. I play it all the time.
There will be some getting used to with the new Eb, if I can get it serviced to proper playing condition (a couple of the notes are wonky). It’s a different mechanism - quite a few less keys than a modern Bb.
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Author: Ihavetoomanyinstruments
Date: 2022-05-20 14:13
Thanks for the history of pitch article Fuzzy. One learns something every day.
I can’t help but think the clothing industry could use a similar international scale of clothing and shoe sizes, like the international pitch standard. Wouldn’t that make buying clothes online easier.
Post Edited (2022-05-20 14:34)
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Author: Ihavetoomanyinstruments
Date: 2022-05-20 14:15
Thank you Tony F, your Eb looks gorgeous. Until a few days ago I never even knew they existed. And now I’ve seen two of them! Do you play it anywhere?
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Author: Ihavetoomanyinstruments
Date: 2022-05-20 14:20
Thanks ACCA for the link to the serial number site. I had already found that and a couple of others that concur, but a member of another forum tells me they are all wrong and just copied from each other. He said that it is not possible for this Eb to have been made before 1930. I don’t know how he is quite sure of this but one thing I do know is that if it were made in 1900, it might not play in the right pitch. According to my pitch app, it plays pretty close to modern pitch levels.
In any case, I would rather it were playable in modern times so I can play it in groups and such. I hope it eventually will be. If I figure out how to upload a clip, I will - I suppose it’s the same as uploading a photo although I couldn’t seem to upload anything more than a tiny file.
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2022-05-20 16:08
That's amazing that it's so light and easy to play. It sounds very exciting to try and it's good that it fits with modern pitch. I have a high pitch clarinet and it has a lovely tone but it does make it hard to play without anyone else at all.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2022-05-20 18:56
"Thank you Tony F, your Eb looks gorgeous. Until a few days ago I never even knew they existed. And now I’ve seen two of them! Do you play it anywhere?"
I rarely use it these days, but back in the early 60's it had a busy life in a military band. After I'd left the service I heard that the station was closing and the band were having their final practise, so I returned, met some old bandmate friends and sat in on the final night. When I left I souvenired the Eb, because if I'd left ti there it would have been stored in a warehouse for 50 years and then sold as scrap.
Tony F.
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Author: Ihavetoomanyinstruments
Date: 2022-05-21 06:52
I’m glad you souvenired the Eb (great word). Like you, I wanted to rescue this little guy and look after it properly with restoration and eventually semi-regular usage. I feel lucky that I even saw it. I wasn’t even looking for it, but it found me.
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