Selmer, Radio Improved, B Flat Clarinet
A rare Selmer, Radio Improved, Bb Clarinet, which is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. This instruments' last owner is a professional Jazz player. The R. I. was the first of the "modern" designs made by Selmer, with improved key work, and a bore design featuring a reverse taper cone at the top of the upper joint, and an expanding flare at the bottom of the lower joint. As the name suggests it was intended for Radio broadcasts as it featured both improved intonation and evenness of sound. The German Silver keywork is in good condition for a clarinet dating to 1931 with only a slight patina commensurate with age and use. The Grenadilla wood shows many surface marks and scuffs, and there is an old pinned crack repair to the upper joint, see photo 6. The clarinet has lightly used fish skin pads, with a cork pad on the speaker key, all are sealing well. The matching serial numbers are L992 dating to 1931, though they are hard to make out. Curiously, though the main pieces have the modern Selmer logo, the bell has the earlier logo. As the clarinet sits on the cusp of the introduction of the new logo, it is possible the bell is the original. The case is a more modern Selmer in good condition, and the supplied m'piece is a used Lafleur of the period.