Saw a clarinet for sale with difficult to make out logo, but labeled "Made in Saxony" B LP. First of all, of course we know that there were many instrument manufacturers in operation over hundreds of years in Vogtland Saxony, in present day Germany- but why Saxony the state called out instead of any form of Germany? I know that modern idea of Germany was formed in 1871 with the "German Empire" and included Saxony, but was the concept of low pitch/high pitch as represented by LP/HP in use by that time? It seems like it was made for consumption in the US or other countries with origin labels mandated, with the "Made in XXX" stamp as well as the LP marking. It's Boehm system as well- not sure if Vogtland/Saxony manufacturers were making them in 1870 or earlier, though maybe? As I understand, Boehm system was prevelant in France around that time and starting to take off in other places and maybe they were just starting to get in on that business. I'll have to look at Saxony's history to understand more of how or when it was considered more of it's own state vs. part of a more modern nation-state like we think of them today, since that is a fairly new idea, actually. Oh, the clarinet looks very old on it's own, and if I had to date when I thought it was from, independent of where it was made, I would say 1880s to early 1900s just based on the aging alone. I'd buy it, but at 1/10th the asking price- maybe. One of those listings where the clarinet is absolutely hammered and half the pics are of the deteriorated case.
