Pedler frankenhorn: which piece is from what?

[YTo]

Hi!

I don't know clarinets at all but I bought one anyway because I like old instruments and clarinets have all those interesting keys and levers and thingies and this was a cheap thrift store offering that seemed to have all the parts. It has absolutely no odor which is pretty amazing.  It would need pads and adjustments and I don't know what else to actually function, but that's for another time.

I've learned a lot from this site and particularly from the useful Pedler threads and appreciate all the work done here!

The clarinet I have is a mix of Harry Pedler and Pedler "Premiere" parts. (I'm assuming it can't be both but I can't find any catalogs online to help.) There aren't any serial numbers that I can find. The barrel is marked Harry Pedler, the bell is marked The Pedler "Premiere", and the joints are unlabeled. The case is a boxy type, '40s-50s I think, with no label but similar to later Pedler cases.

Are there any features that would distinguish the upper and lower joints of a Premiere from whatever the Harry Pedler would be? It doesn't have the Pedler "appliance" but I don't know if that is helpful. Where should I be looking?

Thanks!

[DaveLeBlanc]

Unlabeled joints are not uncommon. The real question is if the bell or barrel is the original.

You can compare the design and style of the metal rings on each section - if the two joints match, they're matched. If the ring/s on the joints match up with either the bell or barrel, then that's the one. Pls post some pics.

[YTo]

Thanks!

They all match. Even the lyre holder, although it isn't as nicely formed, has the same profile. I'll attempt to attach photos. I now realize my photos aren't great. Please let me know what would be helpful to see!

The bell image is enhanced to show the stamp better. It's not a deep stamp. The barrel stamp is nice and crisp.

[YTo]

I'd just like to add that it's truly a joy to visit a website that has no-nonsense photo posting! I can't believe that worked the first time!!   

[DaveLeBlanc]

Thanks for the pics!

This is a toughie. The rings all look virtually identical, which I guess I'm not too surprised at based on Pedler often using the same hardware across time and space.

I would imagine that the item with the most similar texture is a match; in this case the barrel would more likely be a match with the rest of the joints.

However, I'm not a hardcore Pedler expert like some other folks here. Without a serial, its more of a mystery. But, In my (un)professional opinion, I'd say the body matches the bell, not the barrel.

[YTo]

Thanks for the input. The two joints aren't quite equally shiny either. Maybe I have bits from 4 instruments. 

[YTo]

I've come to the tentative conclusion that these actually do go together. The mark on the bell is the same design as metal models of "The Pedler Premiere" that were the student clarinets from the Harry Pedler Co. (according to the ad from 1930) so one could imagine the ebonite version was also. Maybe!

The research on this site suggests that serial numbers for ebonite models likely came after the Harry Pedler Co. which would explain the lack of one here. Maybe.

Pretty sure the case is "incorrect", though!

[Windsong]

This is an original Premier model.  Note the wire crow's foot.  This was Pedler's first design.  Thanks to Lisa, I now have an authentic AMC Groneet-Pedler with no markings at all, and I know it is Pedler's because of keywork alone.  This crow's foot design was dropped in the late 1920s, and was used on a few models including Pedler's offshoot business; La Premiere Francais clarinets.  So, this is a True Harry Pedler in ebonite (hard rubber), and was made prior to 1929.  Nice find. Let me know if you have any additional questions, and please post up pics of the other sides of the top amd bottom joints.

[YTo]

Thanks, Windsong! I'm not sure which parts are useful to you--let me know if you would like more angles.

I took apart and cleaned the top joint (the pads were shot anyway) but all I haven't gotten around to the other one.  It's well-preserved; not a single screw gave me any trouble and the pin hinge thingies all came out with fingertips. I think it could be brought back to life, but would this model even be worth getting repadded?

[YTo]

I forgot to mention that it's not entirely unmarked. It has a J.

[DaveLeBlanc]

Thanks for being the resident expert, Windsong!