Antique Musical Instruments/Trying to date my clarinet

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Expert: - 7/21/2006


Question
Hi, I don't know if you can help me with this or not. But I have a Silvertone clarinet and it is pretty old. I am trying to date it and can't figure out how to do so. I found a webpage of serial numbers but it was for Selmers clarinets. Here are the numbers I have. 2525 and underneath that is 69588. When I had the pads replaced about 13 years ago I was told that this was a "Higher Class" Clarinet that Sears Roebuck carried. I would appreciate any help. Or if you can guide me in the right direction.  

Answer
Actually, Silvertone was a brand name used by Montgomery Ward.  Sears used Silver Tone for instruments actually made by Blessing, or White.  King also used it as a Model name.  I am not aware of any existing serial number lists for either Sears or Wards instruments.  

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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