Does Anyone know About Clarinets?

Sometimes I think I shouldn't be allowed out - I ended up buying/trading a bunch of pipes for this case that has 4 clarinets inside, and 3 little boxes with reeds (it was the boxes that hooked me). 2 are marked C. Mahillon London, 1 is John Grey Dulcetta, the last is C. Jeuffroy. I don't play the clarinet and have no idea on what to look for that would make them not worthy of selling - any idea or information appreciated.

 

Are they wood or plastic? If wood, are there any splits or chips? Do the keys work (there's not a lot of movement in them, but the pads should clear the holes)? Are all the pads present? Do the parts fit together and come apart snugly, or do those corks need to be replaced? It's not going to help that none of them have cases. I do like that reed case.

I took clarinet lessons for about 8 years and was the best in my class (at least in an orchestral situation). I swear I never did learn how to play music. I could read music, but if you wanted me to kick it up a tone, you'd have to get me a new score.

I was absolutely useless as a soloist. Locked up completely. I needed the anonymity of a crowd. I once got drafted into a solo competition. These competitions are divided into classes according to your supposed experience. I ended up as the only entrant in my particular competition class. I came in second. The adjudicator said that he couldn't, in all conscience, give me first. I had to agree. My mother wanted to put me on a local TV show called Tiny Talent Time. It never happened, but just thinking about it, even now, makes me shudder.

 

They don't age gracefully

They will likely need the corks and seals replaced

The reeds may even be bad from age

The may still sell OK to a restorer overseas

 

There's a guy on the PT Sellers board, who sells and repairs these puppys....
Throw a photo up there and see if he comes around.
I'll try to remember his name...

 

CX, sometimes I should not be allowed out either, lol! (Fortunately there are the other days when it was good I was let out...)

I know a tiny bit about clarinets.

Ditto on what Terry said regarding clarinets not aging well, but keep reading.

I doubt the reeds are worth much just because those need to be in top shape to work, but maybe search "vintage clarinet reeds" under completed/sold to be sure. The box with individual holders is very cool. You never know what clarinet people collect, so check.

These look like wooden clarinets, but if memory serves wooden ones do not age well in particular (although wooden ones are more expensive and desirable when new).

I'm going to tell a little story about one time I purchased a used clarinet, might give a few ideas.

My daughter was taking clarinet lessons in elementary school, and we were renting a clarinet for $35 a month. Back then I was new to the world of clarinets. In my collectibles/antiques search one weekend, found a very cool looking clarinet in its own case with some extra stuff in the case I didn't pay much attention to. They were asking $35, and I bought it without a second thought.

The clarinet teacher groaned when she saw it -- beyond repair. Would cost hundreds of dollars to fix, better just buying a new one. But the teacher was interested in the other items in the case. Turned out that there was a desirable vintage Harrison ligature (the metal piece that holds the reed tight to the mouthpiece), and also in the box a vintage O'Brien crystal mouth piece. Both of those extras brought around $70-80 each on Ebay if memory serves, and I think I sold the clarinet/case for $20 for parts repair.

So I would suggest having a good look in that box. I think I see one ligature at least. Not all are worth $ for sure, but it should have a name on it if it is beyond entry level and you might be able to search. Also some clarinet mouth pieces can be worth $, do you have a music store in town that could eyeball the clarinets, just give you an idea if anything might be worth following up on? Its a little hard to see, but not sure that all the pieces fit together exactly, might have some mismatched parts. Although as was mentioned, they don't age well, it isn't impossible that there is some rare kind in there that would be worth fixing up for someone, so if you had a music store that could help at least suggest if further research might be worth it, I'd try that.

Maybe Komokwa's contact might have ideas, too.

 

I once picked up a coronet in poor condition

Sold the three mouthpieces on ebay for around $35 each

The coronet went into the scrap brass pile for fifty cents a pound at the time

I put the beat up case on top of the garbage can at the curb on pick-up day

The first car that came along slammed on the brakes and hopped out and grabbed it

The next week I saw the case on top of a garbage can a couple blocks away

 

My guy knows his stuff cold......long time seller and restorer , to musicians , school bands ...ect......
I just haven't been on the board in so long ....& my mind is going....( I'm thinking of buying some of those MARBLES...!! LOL...) that his name escapes me !!

WHOA is me !!

Wait.............WAIT a minute...!!!

If I' can research...almost anything I should be able to find this guy for you CX !!!

Hang on....it's coming !!

THEGUITARPARTSGUY ......Jon !

14. Do you play any musical instruments or sing: I am a certified woodwind repair tech. Silly question, LOL. Guitar and Bass are my main/favorite instruments to play, but I also played Alto Sax from 4th grade through my senior year in high school. I can play flute/piccolo, the clarinet family, oboe, and all sax variations enough to make sure they're working properly, and also trumpet/trombone/baritone, but to say I play any of them well besides saxes and guitar/bass would be a lie.... LOL. oldest My daughter is going to college on her flute ability, though, and my youngest plays trumpet well enough that she was offered a scholarship for it this past year as a junior in high school.

HAhaha !!!!!
I'm BACK !!!

( worse for wear.......but still kickin !! )

 

Some folks who have a music room like a variety of instruments to display on their walls. I did just that when I had one,I even had an old cello I picked from the trash and displayed.

So if they are in bad shape you could possibly list as wall art.

 

Thanks for all the replies!
These are all made of wood - one of the horn/end pieces has a crack & one of the metal things that you push has a crack. Lots of green on the metal pieces. I think it was made to carry multiple instruments - proper compartments with a leather cover for each section. It is in bad shape though.
I took these to the music store and he said 'he doesn't do old stuff'.
No names on the ligatures but one does have the number 2 on it. They all have thread wrapped around the joint section, on one the thread feels like it has wax on it. 3 metal pieces also in the box, no idea if they belong or not.
Not all the pieces have names on them so I'm not sure if I'm putting them together correctly.
Komokwa where/what is the PT sellers board?
I agree Shiloh, if nothing else someone will buy them for display.
Thanks again for all the comments and information!

 

Old clarinets ain't old violins, that's for sure. A friend has me keeping an eye out for one of those. Even some of those old fake Stradivarii sound pretty nice if they were made well. The clarinets however are probably good for Christmas decorations.

 

site map
groups
business insights
a part time sellers group...

it never used to be so damn hard to find!!

 

ps...streer clear of Hidy Hoo.....

 

The name on the front of the box from "Odol, the World's Dentifrice" is H. R. Bulcock -- looks like he was Henry Reginald Bulcock, listed here as having passed his "first examination for the diploma in dental surgery." This publication was from 1908:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Au...e&q=bulcock surgeon dentist clitheroe&f=false

Doesn't really help with the clarinets, but the box is no older than 100 years or so.