Trying to get more information about my Bettony Alto

[Jeabrams]

I am in the process of restoring a Bettony Eb alto clarinet. It's a two-piece and appears to be a very low serial number although I can't quite tell. The serial number is very, very, very faint # 633. Perhaps 1633 but the 1 is difficult if it's there or just a scratch. I'd like to see about getting some more information on this instrument and perhaps when it might have been made, and if it is a US factory made instrument or if it came from Europe. It is a "Bettonite" body with dual register keys. It had a hard life in the past as a school marching band instrument. But I've gotten it to playing condition and am thinking about continuing on with a full overhaul. Any insights would be much appreciated,, thanks ☺️

[ghostler]

Noticed the rough "MC1" carved into the wood above the logo, perhaps was a school instrument?

[Jeabrams]

Ghostler, Yes Im certain of it! but how long it sat in disrepair is unclear. I had to silver solder key work and replace pivot screws and a pin. The poor thing was derelict. New springs are badly needed, But it plays and has a much different tone than my Selmer/Bundy's. it appears to have a slightly longer bore and a much larger bell. though the dual register keys are a bit of an adjustment....... I think it may be a Bettony by Silva but I cant determine if its late 1920's or 1930's and there doesnt seem to be much info out there on Bettony alto or bass instruments.

[Windsong]

I think it may be a Bettony by Silva but I cant determine if its late 1920's or 1930's and there doesnt seem to be much info out there on Bettony alto or bass instruments.

Welcome Jeabrams.

As far as I am aware, Silva-Bet was a trade name of Bettony, and most often associated with their "Silver" (cupronickel, maillechort, etc.) clarinets.  They also had a flute line, but it was not as well known.

I applaud the work you have done to return this one to playing condition.  It looks good!

[350 Rocket]

Bettoney advertised that they were the first manufacturer to build altos and basses in the U.S., so I'd surmise that this one was built in the U.S. by Bettoney and not in Europe.

Conn started making altos and basses in 1923, so Bettoney must have started before that. Having a dual register mechanism almost certainly pegs it as being pre-WWII, but all else I know is that Bettoney stopped making harmony clarinets prior to 1958.

"Silva-Bet" was a trademark used only for professional-grade all-metal-bodied soprano clarinets.

[Jeabrams]

Windsong, 350 Rocket,
Thanks very much for your info!

Based on a very low serial number this may be an example of the Boston factory early on in the production of alto's. But I really want to be certain about it. Even if the first digit is a 1 (which it could be - but hard to tell) it would be early production. Without any really good source of documentation it's very hard to tell. Altos were popular then they fell from grace, and production seems to have always been small.

I have tracked down a source of Bettony's company history and found that they contracted with Silva (a manufacturer in what was then Saxony) early on (early 1900's-teens? not date or year specific but pre-WW1) to help supplement the beginner and intermediate level market. The Silva-Bet came along after the manufacturing agreements, and the name came from that working relationship or so the documents said.

All of the professional grade instruments were made in Boston. Silva shipped the lower level instruments to Boston and the Boston factory did the final prep for sale. All of the instrument designs were Bettony and were marked by the Bettony Factory in Boston.
 
This is why I'm a little curious about the actual provenance of this one. I cannot tell if it was originally a lower or upper level example. Even though it was used in a school marching band, there were many instruments that found their way to schools after the alto lost its support in professional bands and orchestras across the spectrum.
I've scoured the internet and music library at the University with little more than a few dissertations on the company's history and almost nothing on serial numbers or anything other than the Silva-Bet metal clarinets....... so the search continues.....

Windsong, Thanks for the encouragement!  I have decided to do a complete overhaul as I see this alto should be preserved regardless its provenance....   
I have ordered springs and pads. the pivot screws and bearing rods are all coming out and will be replaced as needed. The tenons and neck have already been recorked. The keywork is headed to the ultrasound for a bath and then the buffer..... I don't know exactly how to restore the deep engravings on the body but I will see about at least covering them a bit.... I promise that I'll post photos after it is done!

[350 Rocket]

This is why I'm a little curious about the actual provenance of this one. I cannot tell if it was originally a lower or upper level example. Even though it was used in a school marching band, there were many instruments that found their way to schools after the alto lost its support in professional bands and orchestras across the spectrum.

Between a 1925 price list and a 1927 catalog, at that time Bettoney only sold one alto clarinet - the 950, made of Bettonite, listed at $165 in both documents. I don't think there would've been much of a market for "lower grade" harmony clarinets then anyway.

Bettoney serial numbers are largely beyond modern comprehension - they had so many separate sequences that, save for some early metal models and the one plastic one they had, so far nobody has been able to discern anything from them.

[Jeabrams]

350 Rocket,

Thanks! You had to have dredged that information out of an old post that I've not run across, your help is invaluable. With your information, I am leaning towards this alto as an early example of production, and that perhaps it may have been produced in 1922 or 1923, perhaps earlier if I can find any more information. If Bettony began production and sale of alto clarinets before CG Conn and before the Silva-Bet line began then 1922 would be about right. Since I can only see a three digit serial number I'm guessing this one is one of the first group produced. Also knowing the Bettonite pro model was the only one that was made is another clue in this mystery. It all points to a very special set of reasons to restore and preserve this instrument. I'm hopeful that more information surfaces supporting the supposition that it is an early production 1922 950 and I can some how get authoritative backing for the instrument. So far the search and some of the history I've learned has been a great bit of fun. Thanks again for all your help and to anyone else who has info.