Bass clarinet. Nominal pitch: B♭.

Boosey & Co

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Instrument

Bass clarinet/Clarinets/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Bass clarinet

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Boosey & Co

Place Made

London ; Europe ; England ; United Kingdom

Date Made

1901

Description

Technical description: Ebonite, with german silver ferrules. Five pieces: mouthpiece, crook, upper section, lower section, bell. Ebonite mouthpiece, metal ligature and cap; german silver bell and crook. Mouthpiece not stamped. Crook bassoon-shaped, with head of speaker, also clip for music lyre. Upper section not stamped, separate speaker and B♭ keys. Lower section has shaped thumb rest and integral sling-ring. Bell upturned, with head of B♮ bascule (under guard). 12 keys plus 7 plates (one perforated), modern type, in pillars. Music card holder on crook indicates that the instrument was equipped for military or marching band use. L0: throat B♭; speaker (head on crook); hinged thumb-plate. L1: throat A♮; straight A♭; key for E₃/B♮₄ instead of T. L2: Finger-plate perforated with 10mm tone-hole. L3: Cross E♭₃/B♭₄; key for C₃/G♮₄ instead of T. L4: C♯₃/G♯₄; E₂/B♮₃ bascule; F♯₂/C♯₄ (no patent C sharp). R1: Finger-plate for B♭₂/F♮₄, also closing B♮₂/F♯₄ hole; side F₃/C₅; side throat trill key. R2: Finger-plate, also closing B♮₂/F♯₄ hole (as on Boehm). R3: Finger-plate giving G₂/D♮₄. R4: G♯₂/E♭₄; rod-and-axle F₂/C♮₄. Keymount type: pillars. Keyhead type: modern. Serial number: 14675. According to the firm's archives [instruments books], the instrument was made by Skillin. "Bass clarinet" Model A118. Given out 21 Sep 1901; received 6 Dec 1901; charged to Regent Street 31 Dec 1901. Overall size: Height c 880. Bore: mouthpiece 23.1; crook 23.2; upper section at bottom 23.1; lower section at bottom 23.3. Stamped on lower section front "BOOSEY & CO", on lower section rear "14675"; stamped on crook "14675"; stamped on ligature "BOOSEY & CO. LONDON / REGD 309805"; engraved on bell "PRESENTED TO / THE BAND / BY THE OFFICERS, / 3RD. WORCESTERSHIRE REGT. / JUNE 1902". Repair History: Top 55mm of lower section has been replaced with ebonite which is now a lighter colour than the rest of the instrument. The bore here is now rather rough. Usable pitch: A₄ = c 452 Hz. Specific literature references: G.S. (1968) No. 203.

Notes

T.K. Dibley, 1992, August 1991; H. Fricke, July 2005.

Measurements

Height c 880.

Provenance

Gift of W.R. Waterhouse.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

0097

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