Good stuff on ebay

[Silversorcerer]

Yes; that's an "interesting" logo for the time this clarinet would have been made, innit? 
So...what's wrong with this clarinet?  Study the keywork carefully.
(Clue:  the barrel and both UJ and LJ reportedly bear no maker's marks.)

I Czeched it over in the photos.   ;)

There's nothing wrong with it except I think it's NOT French and definitely NOT Selmer. Those fellows started making clarinets when?

[Windsong]

Bingo, sorcerer.
The clarinet is clearly a Czech clarinet.  It even has pins holding the keywork in place, instead of screws.

Does one blame a seller for not knowing what an item is, and falsely advertising it, or do you place blame on the bidders who don't do their homework?  Some blame belongs with both, I suppose, but accidentally misleading one's audience with plausible, uneducated supposition is more forgivable than not doing one's homework.  Caveat emptor.

Per the hint:  I have never seen a Selmer--even the earliest, pre-serialized ones, that did not have every part of the clarinet emblazoned with their logo.

[Silversorcerer]

I've never seen a Selmer that early. I don't think they were making them until almost 1900.

[Windsong]

That's correct.  The Selmer brothers began making reeds and ligs.  Then, when one went off to play at conservatory in 1898, the other (can't remember who's who, among the two) made clarinets for him, and then began making them for the masses in 1903, I believe.  They became serialized in 1922.
Certainly, that Bohemian Albert is a good deal older.  And the price continues to climb.  A quick look at the bidders who want it so badly, and it's immediately apparent why they keep pushing the price.

[Windsong]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1920s-H-N-White-Co-Silver-King-Clarinet-SN-109817-For-Restoration/352173468960?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41375%26meid%3D0832a60aeef142ce8f50ddd80b64a52e%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D362114249148&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[DaveLeBlanc]

Beautiful, but a shame about the dented bell....

[Windsong]

Beautiful, but a shame about the dented bell....

When one considers the price, I see it as truly fortunate for someone with exceptional metalsmithing skills.  The bell is pretty badly beaten up, and Sterling Silver has no "memory" of it's former form, like steel, so bending it back out to a flawless form will be a challenge, but there are many with the right tools, skills and patience to do it, and they stand to make a hefty profit on a clarinet that typically sells just shy of 2 grand in excellent condition.  The melt value is more than the current price on it.

[DaveLeBlanc]

Beautiful, but a shame about the dented bell....

When one considers the price, I see it as truly fortunate for someone with exceptional metalsmithing skills.  The bell is pretty badly beaten up, and Sterling Silver has no "memory" of it's former form, like steel, so bending it back out to a flawless form will be a challenge, but there are many with the right tools, skills and patience to do it, and they stand to make a hefty profit on a clarinet that typically sells just shy of 2 grand in excellent condition.  The melt value is more than the current price on it.

At that point might as well get it as a precious metal investment!

[Windsong]

If cost were no object, which would YOU rather have?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1928-C-G-CONN-624N-B-DOUBLE-WALL-Bb-SILVER-METAL-CLARINET-ELKHART-RARE-/222655975899?hash=item33d75491db:g:G30AAOSw42JZApaY

OR...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CG-Conn-524N-Silver-Metal-Clarinet-WONDERFUL-Video-demo/282670609575?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41375%26meid%3D1e8316092f4d4218837d3a488a204716%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D222655975899&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[Silversorcerer]

If cost were no object, which would YOU rather have?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1928-C-G-CONN-624N-B-DOUBLE-WALL-Bb-SILVER-METAL-CLARINET-ELKHART-RARE-/222655975899?hash=item33d75491db:g:G30AAOSw42JZApaY

OR...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CG-Conn-524N-Silver-Metal-Clarinet-WONDERFUL-Video-demo/282670609575?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41375%26meid%3D1e8316092f4d4218837d3a488a204716%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D222655975899&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

-Well, perhaps this other one, and so would you? EXTREMELY rare, and from the Isaac Fiske workshop which Conn operated momentarily:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Antique-Conn-Double-Wall-Albert-System-Clarinet-Worchester-Mass-c-1890s-/272866518168?hash=item3f881ca498:g:POwAAOSwxCRZzW5U

[mechanic]

If cost were no object, which would YOU rather have?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1928-C-G-CONN-624N-B-DOUBLE-WALL-Bb-SILVER-METAL-CLARINET-ELKHART-RARE-/222655975899?hash=item33d75491db:g:G30AAOSw42JZApaY

This one has been kicking around for awhile.  First sold on shop goodwill back in April(?), then hit eBay and the seller doubled his money.  By June it hit eBay again with a $3250 price tag.  It keeps rolling over and every once in a while the seller drops it 25 or so.  From the various pictures, it looks like it has some finishing issues and would definitely need a complete overhaul.

[DaveLeBlanc]

I'd rather have the double wall for sure. Mainly because it's rare and looks cool :)

[Windsong]

"-Well, perhaps this other one, and so would you? EXTREMELY rare, and from the Isaac Fiske workshop which Conn operated momentarily:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Antique-Conn-Double-Wall-Albert-System-Clarinet-Worchester-Mass-c-1890s-/272866518168?hash=item3f881ca498:g:POwAAOSwxCRZzW5U"

Oh my...that is absolutely incredible.  And it's priced ridiculously low, given what it is.

[Windsong]

What a hoot!  A real "white elephant", eh?
I was not aware of that, Mechanic.
I wonder why nobody wants to restore it, and yes; to say that it maintains 95% of it's silver plate is almost irrelevant when above it is all that hideous laquer.  I know how rare it is, but I consider it greatly overpriced, currently.  The ShopGoodwill figure was probably a lot more in line with its true value, but I suppose we'll see if it moves at its current price.  If it does, then it's value (at least to one person) has been established.

If cost were no object, which would YOU rather have?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1928-C-G-CONN-624N-B-DOUBLE-WALL-Bb-SILVER-METAL-CLARINET-ELKHART-RARE-/222655975899?hash=item33d75491db:g:G30AAOSw42JZApaY

This one has been kicking around for awhile.  First sold on shop goodwill back in April(?), then hit eBay and the seller doubled his money.  By June it hit eBay again with a $3250 price tag.  It keeps rolling over and every once in a while the seller drops it 25 or so.  From the various pictures, it looks like it has some finishing issues and would definitely need a complete overhaul.

[Lisa]

I'd take the albert too, hands down.  The metal Pedler American model i have sounds really nice to me, and mine is considered a student model.  I bet that one sounds great and would be fun to play.