Harry Pedler & Windsor Steel clarinets

[Leedevtron]

I found these 2 clarinets and their cases at a garage sale for 10 dollars.  Was planning on tossing the cases and hanging the clarinets on my wall. Before I do that wanted to make sure they were not valuable. The research I've made here, makes the Pedler one sound like its worth cleaning up. I've attached some pictures. Any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Lee

PS know nothing about clarinets, but by registering I learned what the bell was. :D

[Silversorcerer]

Can't go wrong for $10.  :)

The Harry Pedler is indeed more collectable than the Windsor. Most of the Pedler clarinets available, metal or otherwise, are after Harry sold his company and simply marked "Pedler" or The Pedler Co. The drawback that I see right away though is that the "Harry" is missing a critical part;- the barrel. It also has no mouthpiece with it there. Mouthpieces are easy to find, the barrel is a bit harder to find, but for a collector, the primary interest is in a good metal body marked "Harry Pedler".

The Windsor looks like it is complete from the photos. Of course an inspection might turn up some issues but at least it has all the parts needed to be restored to playability. It appears that the  barrel for the Windsor is integrated (same piece) into the body and only the mouthpiece is separate? The Windsor is also most likely a stencil by another company. It says USA made so there are a few different USA makers that are plausible. Comparing the keywork to those would get you close to who made it.

Those would bring more that you paid at auction for sure, either one, probably between $30 and $50. The Harry might bring more from a serious collector if they have a barrel that fits.

[BLMonopole]

...and are those plateau keys?  Those are rather rare on any clarinet.

And, yes, the Harry Pedler is a very nice and collectible silver clarinet.  The lack of a barrel IS a challenge, however....

You could re-sell for quite a bit more than you paid. 

[Silversorcerer]

It's not really clear, but I don't think those are plateau keys on the Windsor. Cundy-Bettoney made some metal models with plateau keys and they made a good number of stenciled clarinets, but when I zoom in on those keys, they look like rings and typical metal tone hole tops. With it all metal, it's hard to tell without a closer photo.

Someone was auctioning a really beat up case for a Windsor clarinet for $20. No bids yet. I think the $10 investment is pretty secure in these two. Some day soon I might get curious enough about metal clarinets to re-pad one and see how they sound.

[Leedevtron]

You guys sure are making me learn stuff, had to look up what the "keys" were so I could take pictures. So attached is a close-up of the Windsor keys. Also a picture of what I bought them for, plus, I did have the barrel for the Pedler which was in the case.

[Silversorcerer]

Good photos. The Windsor has typical ring keys and not plateau keys.

Both of these clarinets have the typical features of modern clarinets aside from the metal construction. They are not really obsolete. These are instruments that could be restored to be played at current pitch standard, I am fairly sure. Typically the ones used for lamps or other decorations are functionally obsolete, damaged, or built to an older pitch standard.

They also make good antique decorations but I would favor hanging them right side up and attempting to preserve currently working mechanics (3-in-1 oil once a year works). At any point as needed you could cash them in.

- Nice to have discovered the Pedler barrel!  :)  Good thing you looked for it before tossing the cases.  They would be more valuable with the cases beyond their service as ornaments, if you have room to store them.

Concerning antique musical instruments and what we do with them I generally tell people I didn't bring it with me and I will not take it with me and what I paid for it is a price, not an ultimate or careful determination of the value now or in the future.

Thank-you for sharing your find.

[Silversorcerer]

Just looking at that part of the key work I am tempted to attribute manufacture of the Windsor to Conn or the Pan American division of Conn, which was also located in Elkhart, Indiana. It's just a guess based on what I see. If I find out more later I will update it here.

[Silversorcerer]

Comparing key work of the Windsor to this one, a (Conn) Cavalier model which is a known Conn / Pan American made clarinet, I think this is the origin of the Windsor. You might look at more photos on the ebay listing but that won't be there long. This one shows similar trills, G# key, D# side key and RH5 key grouping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAVALIER-CLARINET-by-CONN-with-HARD-CASE-Metal-Silver-plated-1920s-23377-/282061498347?hash=item41ac2ce7eb:g:-8cAAOSwqBJXVyhP

[andybeals]

I saw that one, too - but why does it have a brass instrument mouthpiece (trombone?) in the case??

[DaveLeBlanc]

It's like one of those random goodie bags.  You never know what you're going to get!

Sometimes, you get a $250 Fox CVX2 bocal :)

[Silversorcerer]

I noticed that MP but not right away. I play trumpet also, which I know is not typical for reed players, but it's not completely unheard of. I got interested in clarinets because my brother played one in school. IN school, I was a cornet player and a very good one until I got braces on my teeth.

Someone packed up their gig gear in a hurry? When I see stuff like this I can't resist trying to imagine the conditions and events that led to what got left in the time capsule.

I think it's a trumpet MP or maybe cornet or mellophone. It's a pretty good looking Cavalier clarinet even with a trumpet MP.

I couldn't help noticing that the Windsor has a much nicer engraving. That's what I like about the odd stencil here or there, you get something a little more unique.