Expert: Kenton Scott - 7/1/2009

Question
A friend has a "clarinet like" instrument. She calls it a clarinet trombone. I don't think so. The instrument is smaller than a traditional clarinet. It stays complete when put into the case(original), except for the mouth piece. It appears to be sterling silver,on the bell of the instrument the following appears. American Standard, Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Musical Instruments. At or near the top of the instrument B 368 appears.  We see just by reading one of your previous reviews that it is obviously old. But, already from that review I can see that it is not as old as the owners thinks. She is telling us it is from the 1870's. She also thinks it is worth $$$$. Remains to be determined. Hope so for her. We need to help her do what is needed to do next. Thank you in advance for your help. Photo of the instrument can be sent.

Answer
My area isn't woodwinds, but this one is intriguing.  If it is just thinner than a wooden clarinet, then I would say that it is just an old metal clarinet.  If it is shorter than a regular clarinet, then I would suspect it is an Eb clarinet.  It would be difficult for it to be from 1870, since the Cleveland company wasn't found till 50 years later.  And, then they were a independent company for only 5 years.  HN White bought them out and used the name as a tradename until th 1905s.

I suspect it is probably a metal Bb clarinet and worth very little.