Expert: Kenton Scott - 11/9/2006

Question
Recently a clarinet was donated to my son who play in the Perryville High School Marching Band.  The Clarinet was donated to him by a Mr Michael Blinn, who is a bass clarinetist in the Middletown Syphonic Band, and lives in CT.  the following letter was sent to me with this Clarinet

Dear fellow clarinetist, I have just finished testing your new clarinet, and I think it's playing just fine, from low E to altissimo F, and higher.  It is made of hard rubber, not plastic, and was probably manufactured soon after WWII, which makes it approximately 60 years old.  Although it has no brand name on it, this clarinet has been identified and as NOblet, an old Franch Company that was bought out by George Leblanc many decades ago.  Daniel NOblet was making instruments before Mozart was born.

The Bay State Band was from Glouchester, Massachusetts.  Did this clarinet belong to the band?  OR was it played and owned by a member? I don't know.  The label on the Faux-alligator case gives some clues as to its origin.  I would not take that off, as it gives the case a certain cashet that is impossible to replicate.

A warning: the metal used in this clarinet is quite soft and will bend easily.  Be careful assembling the horn, especially the upper and lower joints.  If you do bend something, don't panic.  Carefully bend the metal back using needle nose pliers.

I don't know what strength  reed you use, but I included a couple of Gonzalez #3's.  These are some of the best reeds on the market today, and I hope they will work for you.  The mouthpiece is a Vanduren B-45.  Enjoy.

Michael Blinn
Bass Clarinetist
Middletown Symphonic Band

that was the letter that came in the clarinet case that was sent to us by this generous man.  The canse is a faux-alligator case with a very interesting aged sticker on the front.  Hopefully by the description of the stamp someone my recognize it and know where it may have come from or whom it may have once belonged to.  I would love to know the history behind this instrument as it is now going to have a much longer history.  On the bell of the clarinet are the words BAY STATE, they are etched in the bell.  There is no serial number on the instrument, is there any other way to identify it? or date it? or tell it's origin?

The stamp on the case is a beige stamp approx 4 x 5 inches and from what i can read, the letters are red. it says:

New Hampshire
A____ition Festival
Satruday May 10, 1958
Laccina, New Hampshire

handwritten on this sticker looks like - Ham_ton, N.H. Band 33 R________

I have photos of the stamp upon request that may help with the origin of this clarinet.

Thanks, a clarinetists mom, Angela


Answer
My area is not Woodwinds, but I think I can give you a bit of information, as a alternative to that in the letter.

Bay State was a tradename used by the Oliver Ditson Company for presumably imported instruments.  They were in business from 1861 to 1931.  The lack of a serial number would imply, at least with brass instruments, that it probably dates to before the 20th Century.