Single Reed Instruments

Franz Doleisch Basset Horn, c.1800

Prague, Czech Republic
Boxwood, angled, 13 keys with kasten. An extremely rare instrument.

Soprano Chalumeau, c.1710

Replica by David Ross.

Based on originals in Munich, Germany, and Stockholm, Sweden.
The originals are made of ivory (the copy of artificial ivory). Both have two silver keys. The pitch is 415.

 

 

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Alto Chalumeau, c.1710

Replica by David Ross.

The Liebav alto Chalumeau has 2 keys.
The original is at the Stockholm Museum in Sweden

 

 

 

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Tenor Chalumeau, c.1710

Replica by Stefan Beck.

The J. C. Denner original is at the Stadtmuseum in Munich, Germany

 

 

 

 

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Bass Chalumeau, c.1700

Replica by David Ross.

Based on originals in Munich, Germany and Stockholm, Sweden.

The originals and the D. Ross copy are made of boxwood with three brass keys. The pitch is 415.

 

Denner, Baroque Clarinet, c.1700

Replica by David Ross.

This instrument is a copy of the J. C. Denner clarinet at University of California, Berkeley, CA. The Berkeley instrument is made of maple with three brass keys.

This is probably the oldest/earliest surviving clarinet, obviously an experimental model with the multitude of doubled holes and third key. This instrument has been the subject of several articles.

 

 

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Scherer, Baroque D Clarinet, c.1740

Replica by David Ross.

The J. G. Scherer ivory clarinet at the Royal College of Music in London, England.

This D. Ross instrument is made of artificial ivory and has two silver keys.

 

 

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Joseph Stingelwagner, Clarinet d’Amour, c.1760

Replica by Stefan Beck.

Four keys (one thumb key)

Original is at the Stadmuseum, Munich, Germany.

 

 

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W. Nicolai, Ab Clarinet, c.1800

Boxwood, 5 keys. Mouthpiece replica by Stefan Beck.

 

 

 

 

 

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Moltino, B^b Clarinet, c.1800

London, England Boxwood and ivory, 5 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Goulding d’Almaine Potter & Co., B^b Clarinet, c.1813

Soho Square, Boxwood and ivory, 5 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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Goulding & Co., A Clarinet, c.1800

Boxwood and ivory, 5 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dobner & Consort, C Clarinet, c.1815

Strasbourg, Germany

Boxwood and ivory, 5 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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D’Almine & Co., B^b Clarinet, 1820

London, England

Boxwood and ivory, 6 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thomas Garrett, B^b Clarinet, c.1825

London, England

Boxwood and ivory, 8 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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Richard Bilton, B^b Clarinet, c.1826

London, England

Boxwood and ivory, 6 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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Richard Bilton, A Clarinet, c.1826

London, England

Pearwood and ivory, 13 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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Franz Carl Kruspe, E^b Clarinet, c.1830

Granadilla wood with ivory rings, Albert system.

 

 

 

 

 

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Bilton, Richard, B^b Clarinet, c.1830

London, England

Boxwood and ivory, 5 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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George Metzler, A Clarinet, c.1833

London, England

Boxwood and ivory, 6 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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James Jordan, A Clarinet, c.1835

Liverpool, England

Boxwood and ivory, 8-keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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Wood & Ivy, Bb Clarinet, 1835

London, England

Boxwood and ivory, 6 keys.

 

 

 

 

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Metzler & Co., Clarinet, c.1842

London, England

Boxwood and ivory, 10 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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Richard Bilton, A Clarinet, 1843

London, England

Boxwood and ivory, 13 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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Gottfried Schuster, B^b & A Clarinets, c.1820

Neukirchen, Germany

Includes corps de rechange (interchangeable parts).

Boxwood and dark ivory rings, extendable keys for the right hand.

 

 

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H. Kayzer, E^b Clarinet, c.1845

Hamburg, Germany

Boxwood and ivory, 14 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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H. Kayzer, D Clarinet, c.1845

Hamburg, Germany

Boxwood and ivory, 14 keys.

 

 

 

 

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George Butler, C Clarinet, c.1869

London and Dublin

Boxwood, 13-keys.

 

 

 

 

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I. Lot, B^b Clarinet, c.1870

Paris, France

Albert System, 4 rings, 12 keys.

 

 

 

 

 

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Theodore Berteling, E^b Clarinet, c.1875

New York, New York

This clarinet possesses several extra keys that are not normally found on Albert System instruments.

It has four rings, rollers between both left and right hand little finger keys, an extra right hand side key, and a left hand E^b key.

 

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Anonymous, A Clarinet, c.1885

Maker unknown, Albert system.

 

 

 

 

 

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Buffet Crampon, B^b Clarinet, c.1886

Albert system, 13 keys, 2 rollers.

 

 

 

 

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George Cloos, C Clarinet, c.1890

New York, New York

Albert system, 12 keys, 2 rings.

 

 

 

 

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Anonymous, C Clarinet, c.1890

Albert system, 12 keys, 2 rings, high pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

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Gonet & Cie, Paris, E^b Clarinet, c.1890

Paris, France

12 keys, two rings, high pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

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Buffet Crampon, B^b Clarinet, c.1915

Albert system, stamped “Carl Fischer”, left hand/right hand lower joint rollers.

 

 

 

 

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C. G. Conn, E^b Metal Clarinet, c.1900

Double wall instrument, metal with chrome.

 

 

 

 

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Clarinet, Model Conservatoire, c.1890

C-pitch, Albert system.

 

 

 

 

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Ideal by Royce & Co., E^b Clarinet, c.1910

Toronto, Canada

Albert system

 

 

 

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Buffet Crampon, B^b Clarinet, c.1918

Albert system, left and right hand rollers, stamped, “Carl Fischer.”

 

 

 

 

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Buffet Crampon, A Clarinet, c.1919

Albert system, stamped with “Carl Fischer, New York,” left hand and right hand B & C keys have rollers.

 

 

 

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Boosey & Co., B^b Clarinet, 1927

London, England

The Clinton System.

The Clinton model clarinet was invented by George Clinton (1850-1913), a British clarinetist that performed in numerous orchestras in London. His model of clarinet was quite common in Europe in the first decades of the 20th Century.

The Clinton System is very close to the Albert System commonly also called the “ordinary system”.

 

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H. Selmer, A Clarinet, c.1928

Paris, France

Full Boehm system.

 

 

 

 

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Couesnon, B^b Clarinet, c.1929

Paris, France

Silver plate, Boehm system.

 

 

 

 

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Buffet Crampon, Clarinet, c.1930.

Paris, France

Boehm system

 

 

 

 

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Buffet Crampon, A Clarinet, c.1930

Albert system, LP (low pitch), stamped “Carl Fischer, New York,” rollers on right hand keys.

 

 

 

 

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Clemens Meinel, B^b Clarinet, c.1930

Wemitzgrun, Germany

German system, thumb key for resonance hole in bell.

 

 

 

 

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Clemens Meinel, A Clarinet, c.1930

Wemitzgrun, Germany

German system, thumb key for resonance hole in bell.

 

 

 

 

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H. Selmer, Brevet, A Clarinet, c.1930

Paris, France

Brevet, full Boehm system.

 

 

 

 

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Gustav Pruefer, A Clarinet, c.1930

Providence, Rhode Island

Albert system, articulated G#, wraparound register key.

 

 

 

 

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Gustav Pruefer, B^b Clarinet, c.1930

Providence, Rhode Island

Albert system, articulated G#, wraparound register key.

 

 

 

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Buffet Crampon, A Clarinet, c.1934

Paris, France

Boehm system.

 

 

 

 

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Gustav Pruefer, B^b Clarinet, c.1934

Providence, Rhode Island

Boehm system.

 

 

 

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Anonymous, B^b Clarinet, c.1940

Silver plated, student model, Boehm system.

Metal clarinets were widely used by students in elementary and junior high schools during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

 

 

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Selmer Bundy, B^b Mazzeo Clarinet, c.1920

The Selmer Bundy Mazzeo System was invented by Rosario Mazzeo (a former clarinetist with the Boston Symphony) in the 1920’s.
The Mazzeo key system was produced by the Selmer Company and was available in the 50’s on their student and professional instruments. In spite of considerable publicity and advertising, the Mazzeo system was not accepted widely in the U.S. by clarinetists and production was halted.
A total of 13,000 instruments were produced. A limited number exist today in museum and private collections.

 

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Anonymous, L. Labori, C Clarinet, c.1920

Paris, France

Granadilla wood, Albert or Simple system, stamped “L. Labori, Paris”.

L. Labori is a trade name used for imported woodwind instruments.

 

 

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Leblanc, B^b Clarinet, c.1957

Paris, France

Leblanc, Noblet Model ND, Boehm system, granadilla wood.

 

 

 

 

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Amati Krastice, G Clarinet, 2009

Prague, Czech. Republic

German system, extra tuning barrel, with case.

 

 

 

 

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Leblanc Alto Clarinet (Vito), c.1970

Reso-tone, Boehm system.

 

 

 

 

 

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F. Besson Bass Clarinet, c.1873

London, England

Albert system, rosewood with plateau keys.

 

 

 

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Buffet Bass Clarinet, c.1880

Paris, France

Albert system, plateau keys, granadilla wood.

 

 

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Oscar Adler, Octavin, c.1893

Marknuekirchen, Germany

The Octavin is a conical tube, doubled back. It is made from a single piece of wood and has a single reed saxophone-like mouthpiece. It is 30cm in length with a curved bell.

The Octavin has a tone similar to that of a saxophone. Only a limited number of instruments were produced. Few examples of Octavins exist today.

 

 

Adolphe Sax, Alto Saxophone, 1867

 

Reputed to be one of the earliest instruments made by Sax from his first year of production.

The bell is inscribed by Sax.

 

 

Stowasser, Tarogato, c.1920

 

Ofem, Hungary

Rosewood, single reed, conical bore.