Clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭.

Fritz Wurlitzer

(Note: Each icon above opens in a new tab.)

Instrument

Clarinet

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Fritz Wurlitzer

Place Made

Germany ; Central Europe ; Europe

Date Made

Circa 1940

Description

Technical description: Cocus wood with german silver ferrules and keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. Original named mouthpiece grooved for cord. Two barrels marked "B". Interesting variant of keywork that allows a perfect E₃-F♯₃ trill at the bottom of the instrument both from the left and the right sides. The "correspondence" is on the front of the instrument (with adjusting screw) instead of on the side. Vent corresponding with speaker and thumb ring: it is opened when only the speaker is used in order to give an exact throat B♭, and is closed when the thumb closes the hole to overblow. Socket of lower section lined with german silver. Vent hole in bell. Boehm fingering system combined with a German, predominantly cylindrical bore. 17 keys, 7 rings. L0: T + ring F₄/C♮₆; speaker. L1: T + ring F♯₄; throat A♮; throat A♭. L2: T + E♭₄/B♭₅ corresponding ring. L3: T + ring; cross E♭₄/B♭₅. L4: C♯₄/G♯₅; F₃/C♮₅; E₃/B♮₄; F♯₃/C♯₅. R1: T + ring B♭₃/F♮₅ via correspondence; side E♭₄/B♭₅; side F♯₄/C♯₆; trills 1-2. R2: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅ via correspondence. R3: T + ring B♮₃/F♯₅ via correspondence; cross B♮₃/F♯₅. R4: G♯₃/E♭₅; E₃/B♮₄; F₃/C♮₅; F♯₃/C♯₅. Keymount type: screwed in pillars. Keyhead type: modern. Playing accessories: 4 barrels, 2 original reed-caps. Cased with (5173). Decorative features: Very elegant wood and keywork. Repair History: Tone-holes of lower sections has been filled with glue in order to improve the tuning.

Other Information

Specific usage history: Shackleton's usual playing instrument.

Notes

H. Fricke, Oct-Dec 2006.

Measurements

659 with original mouthpiece.

Provenance

Bequest of Sir Nicholas Shackleton, 2006.

Collection

Sir Nicholas Shackleton Collection ; MIMEd

Accession Number

5172

Related Items