Expert: Kenton Scott - 5/23/2005

Question
I received a silver clarinet (I am sorry it is not brass, I am hoping you can help me though) when I was young. A friend of our family gave it to my father to give to me when we lived in Conneticutt.  The clarinet was said to be pure silver, although I have never had it looked at.  The inscription on the clarinet is engraved and reads Triumph.  Also there is a date of AG 1767 inscribed on it. It is a beautiful instrument and I am hoping you can help shed light on its origin and value.  Any help would be appreciated.

Answer
Hi Deiona,

I will give you what my initial impression is, but I do not have any first hand knowledge, so take it with a grain of salt.  

I would guess that the horn is probably brass with a silver plate finish.  If there are any wear spots on it, it may show yellow color.  

There was a Triumph Band Instrument Company in Columbus OH, from 1908-12.  If this is the same company, they weren't in business very long, and in all probability, they didn't actually make the instrument, but bought it from someone else, and stencilled their name on it.

I associate the silver clarinets with the depression and an attempt to make a less expensive instrument.  A bunch of them were made and most were unsatisfactory instruments.  I'm not sure whether the metal ones played badly because they were of metal or because they were otherwise poorly made.  I have in the back of my mind a comment made by some person, who that was I have no recollection, that said that a good clarinet could be made of brass, it was just that most were not.

But it sounds like this horn was made earlier than the depression.  So, I don't know whether your instrument was an experiment in materials or an attempt at cost reduction.

If it still plays, you might want to get a skilled clarinetist to give it a try to see whether it plays well or not.  If if needs to be reconditioned, I'd look real close to see whether it was silverplated brass, before putting any money into it.

(I have one that was in poor condition when I got it, that I made into a lamp.)

Hope this helps

Kenton