The original CONN job

[Windsong]

This is the oldest Conn I've ever seen.  This was reportedly Charles Gerard Conn's first year in business.

Despite the bell's condition issues (which I feel an advanced metalworker could quickly sort) this is a very rare clarinet.  At its present "buy it now", or Best Offer price, I consider it a tremendous deal.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176312801627?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20240315134233%26meid%3D91a179161d21422a8c49fe7003c0e484%26pid%3D102056%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D176312801627%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DWatchlistVariantWithMLR%26brand%3DC.G.%2BConn&_trksid=p4375194.c102056.m47999&_trkparms=parentrq%3A9add9a9a18e0a8d8e2c36cf1ffffd24a%7Cpageci%3A83f88c6a-f053-11ee-8c11-5a12885c547f%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage

[350 Rocket]

I believe this is even older than the seller says - the patent for Conn's double-wall clarinet was granted in 1889. I suppose it's anyone's guess how many they made per year though.

Sometime within the past several months I saw serial number 59 (key of A) listed for sale. (Of course I didn't think to save pictures of it.)

[mechanic]

I'd be pretty worried about that G# key.

[Windsong]

Indeed, Rocket.  The early years are nicely sorted into round numbers, and only a neurotic manufacturer would control production with that level of accuracy.  Also, the notion that 1st year production would be 2-4 times the following years' production seems improbable.

Good eye, Mechanic!
Yes--it appears that key got squashed and flattened out a bit!

[Windsong]

On the subject of ancient Conns, I stepped away at $160.00 on this beautiful, vintage model.  The seller does not provide a serial, but based upon length, it is a low pitch clarinet.  If this were a Harry Pedler, it would be called a Model 1554--the one Albert of his I STILL do not have. This would have served nicely, since it appears nearly identical, and is likely Pedler's anyway. 

The full Albert System Conn/Pedler clarinets seem to be very rare.  I only see one every 3 or so years.  Good on the person who was more invested than I was:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186363272699

[DaveLeBlanc]

Nice, I've always wanted a good double wall. Like 10 years ago a pristine example sold from QuinnTheEskimo on ebay for I think it was around $300, which was the literal deal of a lifetime. Missed out, of course. Very sad.

[350 Rocket]

Indeed, Rocket.  The early years are nicely sorted into round numbers, and only a neurotic manufacturer would control production with that level of accuracy.  Also, the notion that 1st year production would be 2-4 times the following years' production seems improbable.

Beyond that, I've seen it suggested that Conn clarinet and saxophone serial numbers were separate at first, with the sequences merged later. I believe that to be the case, but I need more data to be confident.