Triple Set of Karl Hammerschmidt, SRB, Clarinets in B Flat, A, & C, Bucknall Collection
A rare and possibly unique triple set of Karl Hammerschmidt, Burgau, Schmidt Reform Boehm clarinets. This set have an impressive Provenance having last been owned by the renowned British clarinettist Nicholas Bucknall. Below is a brief list of some of the films and recordings on which the Hammerschmidts can be heard: Pride & Prejudice (BBC TV) The English Patient, Emma, Chocolat, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Gosford Park, Chicken Run, Shrek etc.
The instruments have undergone much revision, briefly summarised here:
The thumb rests have been moved, and in some cases screw holes left unfilled. A tuning key, fully automatic for both low E & F has been added to the Bb & A [please note that this is a considerably better design than the Yamaha CSG III design in that one key corrects both low E & F]. The original tuning holes for low E on Bb & A, having been made larger and lower by Alan Hacker, a previous owner, have been filled and restored to their original positions and dimensions. The Bb cracked in 2011 and was restored by Jon Steward of Howarths with an ebonite lined sleeve to the upper part of the upper joint, of 95mm depth. The invoice for this work is included in the sale. Nicholas Bucknall found this work actually improved the already very fine tuning and response. The A also has a pinned crack to the upper joint in the area of the 2nd trill key pad.
The Schmidt Reform Boehm mechanism brings the following additional vents/mechanisms: Fully automatic switchable Bb/register key pads. Fork Eb/Bb [disabled on the Bb by Nicholas for tuning reasons]. Compensating D/A vent, B/F# vent, A/E vent, correction keys on Bb and A for low F & E. The bore of the Bb is large at 15.4mm and the A is 15.3mm. The C is a small bore German/Austrian model at 14.0mm. This set demonstrate a superb Viennese/German sound with matchless intonation, probably one of the finest set of Hammershmidt SRB available. All the supplied m'pieces have been worked on by Jon Steward, and relayed to approximately 0.85 to 0.90mm tip openings. They favour German reeds.