|  The Fingering Forum 
 
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    | Author: Tony Balm Date:   2000-02-14 04:12
 
 I have a clarinet that was given to me many many years ago that I am after
 some info on please.
 
 It is made of WOOD not plastic
 It is French ???
 The markings on it are as follows
 Barrel: 4  32
 Upper joint: COUESNON PARIS
 Lower Joint:
 Bell:                            UNIVERSELLE
 EXPOSITION                DE PARIS
 1901
 
 
 HORS CONCOURS
 MEMBRE DU JURY
 
 COUESNON
 O        O
 Oc
 
 A PARIS
 
 The keys are not the same as a modern clarinet,
 The top joint has three finger holes and a total of 8 levers
 The lower joint has 3 finger holes in different positions to the modern ones
 and has 5 levers.
 
 Can you shed any light on what instrument this is?
 
 Thanks
 Tony Balm
 balm@pipeline.com.au
 
 
 
 
 
 
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    | Author: Eoin Date:   2000-02-14 07:11
 
 I presume your top joint actually has a thumb hole as well as three finger holes!
 
 If you look at my web site:
 
 http://gofree.indigo.ie/~jonmca/clarinet1.html
 
 you will find simple instructions for identifying the fingering system of your clarinet. These are not necessarily complete, but should allow you to figure out how to play it. The best would be if you could put a photo of it somewhere, then post a link to it here and we'll have a look at it.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Tony Balm Date:   2000-02-14 09:45
 
 To better hel identify the clarinet, I have loaded a picture of it onto the net at:
 http://www.pipeline.com.au/users/balm/1clarinet.jpg
 
 
 
 
 
 
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    | Author: Eoin Date:   2000-02-14 11:14
 
 This clarinet uses the Baermann Fingering system. This is identical as far as the player is concerned to the Albert system. This clarinet would be described as an Albert system clarinet in America and as a Simple System clarinet in England.
 
 You can find a fingering chart for it at:
 
 http://gofree.indigo.ie/~jonmca/clarinet2.html
 
 
 
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    | Author: Andrea Date:   2000-06-20 00:02
 
 Beautiful instrument indeed, Tony!
 indeed it might be a presentation clarinet for Couesnon
 to show off their craftmanship at an exhibition.
 At the time Couesnon was better known for their
 brasswind instruments, inherited from the Gautrot company,
 and this appears as fine instrument. The words printed on it mean 'out of challenge'. It features a german-style
 speaker key, as on the modern Oehler clarinet, a plate
 for supporting left first finger when playng in the high
 register, rollers on the little fingers keys, patent C#
 as in the Albert clarinet, double Eb key, two side keys
 (one for C, the other for trills over the 'break', F#
 correcting device (the rings on the lower joint), and a
 single F key. In other words, pue Baermann. Eoin guessed
 just right. Unfortunately I cannot identify the barrel
 gauge, for the digits there do not match the modern
 measure imprinting system, that is usually expressed
 in millimeters. I only hope that you are in possession
 of its original mouthpiece, that would allow you do determine its authentic pitch. You're lucky anyway!
 Best regards
 Andrea
 
 
 
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