Antique Musical Instruments/Antique Clarinet - Orpheum

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Expert: - 8/4/2007


Question
Good morning Mr Scott. I've aquired a lovely silver metal clarinet,engraved on the bell The Orpheum, surrounded by decorative engraving. I'm writing to determine the brand  and approx. age. I have not found Orpheum as a maker, only associated w/ the theaters. Stampped serial # L 892, no other marking, Any insight that you may be able to offer would be appreciated, Thank You.........Joe Eisenhart

Answer
Other than several examples of metal clarinets that are listed as student clarinets, the only Orpheum in the references is for a banjo made by Rettberg & Lange.

In any case, it is almost certainly a tradename stenciled onto an instrument made by some autonomous maker.  

It is probably from around the 30s.  

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.

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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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