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Antique Musical Instruments/Archaeological objects: are these valves from a Clarinet?

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Expert: - 5/5/2010


Question

Small valve
Hi,
I am an archaeologist, I am working at the moment in an underwater excavation of an Ottoman shipwreck from Turkey that sunk in Japan in 1890.
One of our very interesting finds this season have been in the lab when cleaning a concretion. Inside we found two interesting brass pieces that seemed to be part of a musical instrument. I started looking at different wind instruments and I think they could belong to a clarinet. Still I would like to have a knowledgeable opinion to confirm if that is the case.
There was a band on board, as all navy ships do, to celebrate special occasions, etc. but I could not find in the archives the list of instruments in the band.
If you have any literature to recommend me I will appreciate it very much.
I am attaching a picture of the long valve. I also have other pictures of this valve and of a small one

Thank you very much
Berta

Answer
Berta,

I think the three mostly likely possibilities would be 1) key off of a keyed bugle, 2) a water key off of a brass instrument, or a key off of a woodwind instrument.  Pictures of the other item may help determine what they came from, assuming they came from the same instrument, and were not from a box of repair parts, etc.

If you want to send other pictures to Kenton@PunxyPa.com I'd be willing to look, though I don't know whether I'll be able to come to any conclusions.  

Antique Musical Instruments

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Kenton Scott

Expertise

Please note: My area is BRASS instruments, not other wind, string or percussion instruments. I will provide information on antique, obscure and out of production BRASS instruments. 1) Please don't ask for evaluations, I'll not provide them on this site. 2) I am often asked very similar questions, so I'd invite you to first check on Horn-u-Copia.net. Much of the information I have garnered about this topic, I have posted on this WEB site.

Experience

I perform in several historical bands, have informally researched the area, repair brass instruments, and operate a Forum dedicated to the topic at http://horn-u-copia.net

Education/Credentials
B.S. Ed, M.S.

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