Selmer "55" B Flat Clarinet
The Selmer "55" pre-Centered Tone clarinet was, according to some sources, an anniversary instrument produced in 1945 to mark 55 years of Selmer clarinet manufacture. However, we have not seen many Selmer clarinets dating to pre-WW 1.
This rare clarinet is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct, and is in good condition for its' age. The German Silver key work shows some slight "brassing" and tarnish, but the condition overall is fine. The wood likewise, shows only one minor chip to the lowest tenon, and, either pronounced wood grain, or a small crack at the start of the lower joint between the first two tone holes. However the receiver tenon bore here is metal lined, so this has no effect on the response. The instrument is an enhanced Boehm, with 7 rings and articulated C#/G#. The used fish skin pads are in very good condition. The matching serial numbers are M7397. The m'piece is used Vandoren B40, and the case is an original Selmer tri-pack example from the 1950s.