Does anyone have information on the Deepwood clarinet???

[philpedler]

Chuck in Nevada was lucky enough to come up with a Deepwood clarinet. This was an American made clarinet, and I believe there were only a few made. They seem to be very scarce, and also very good. So we're looking for information on it.

Here is information that was sent to me two years ago from Alexandra Mitchel.

The Deepwood clarinet which is pictured on your website was manufactured by my father, Stuart R. Williams and his partner, Vernon D. Peirce, in Park Ridge, Illinois. I possess 2 Deepwood clarinets, one is mine and the other one was my father's. If you would like more information about the Deepwood company, please let me know. I would like to know where you obtained the Deepwood that is pictured.   Alexandra Mitchell   Chicago, Illinois

Alexandra subsequently told me that she had a PDF file giving information. She promised to send it to me, but never did. According to an Internet search, she is now 78 years old.

Does anyone have information about the Deepwood clarinet line? Does anyone have a PDF about this clarinet that could be the one Alexandra mentioned?
Thanks!

[DaveLeBlanc]

Interesting.  The only -wood brand I know is Sherwood which seems to be a fairly generic French stencil.

[Airflyte]

This reminds me of the "Barklee" clarinets. An obscure brand made in New York ( ties to Penzel maybe?).

Hopefully someone knows about these before time erases the history. Phil might have to track down Alexandra if possible.

[bbrandha]

It sounds like what a hobbit would play.

[Windsong]

Phil,
I had never heard of Deepwood until I read about it on your site a year or so ago.
I have catalogued the name, so that if I ever run across one, I snatch it up quickly, but have never seen one.  I suspect they are extremely rare.
Sorry to be of no help. 

[mechanic]

I ran across one about 2 years ago.  A friend of my son picked one up at a garage sale for $10.00.  He brought it by for help with a couple of pads and a good oiling.  I believe the serial number was 1900 and change.  He's off at college now, so I've asked my son to see if he might bring it by next time he's home on break.  Until then, here are the 2 pictures I took of it.  Not a lot of help, but I found the torsion springs on the trill keys pretty interesting.

[DaveLeBlanc]

Whoa, funky springs. I have never seen anything like that before!

[philpedler]

Hey, thanks everyone for the responses! Very much appreciated. We're going to do some deeper research. I will get to do a review.

[Airflyte]

Hey, thanks everyone for the responses! Very much appreciated. We're going to do some deeper research. I will get to do a review.

I'm looking forward to the review, Phil.

[Millerpgh]

Nothing like a follow-up question on a 10-year-old thread! Did you ever learn any more from the deeper research? Just found one on a site and aside from this thread, have found nothing about Deepwood USA clarinets.

[Windsong]

This reminds me of the "Barklee" clarinets. An obscure brand made in New York ( ties to Penzel maybe?).

Hopefully someone knows about these before time erases the history. Phil might have to track down Alexandra if possible.

I have a Barklee barrel in well worn, but usable condition,  stamped "U.S." and will send it free to the first person (within the Contiguous United States only) who PMs me about it, efficiently.

[Windsong]

Welcome, Miller.

It is still not a brand I am familiar with, but I would certainly be attempting to procure it, in that I collect obscure, cottage industry things, and this is that.

It was likely a labor-of-love for Williams and Pierce.  Research and production costs, if not a stencil, (and I have never seen torsion springs in any capacity on a clarinet) almost assuredly never paid for themselves with such a low production instrument.

[Millerpgh]

I somehow won an auction for one!  Not yet a collector, but my son is a 4th generation clarinetist and he is very excited to welcome this one when it arrives next week.

[Windsong]

I somehow won an auction for one!  Not yet a collector, but my son is a 4th generation clarinetist and he is very excited to welcome this one when it arrives next week.

I can certainly understand his excitement.  4th generation, eh?  That is remarkable.  What a great family legacy.