Boosey & Hawkes pre-war 1010 A Clarinet
An excellent condition B&H 1010 A clarinet which is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. This instrument formerly belonged to the well known Keith Bird. Keith was one of the UK's foremost Dance Band clarinet and sax soloists. Taught initially from the age of 16 by his father, Chaz Bird a freelance Band leader, Keith joined the RAF, and quickly rose to promenance, leading the Desert Air Force Dance Band. After the end of WW2 he joined Geraldo, until a dislike of the heavy touring schedule led him to join the BBC Show Band. By 1958 he had become so well known that he could "pick and choose" as a freelancer: He worked [as a soloist] with all the British Greats: Ted Heath, Robert Farnon etc. More recently the clarinet has been owned by a professional clarinettist based in Scotland.
This A, serial no. 30001, dating to 1934, has no cracks or repairs, . The Silver plate throughout is in excellent condition, with only slight signs of wear. The pads are all very good condition Tan leather. All pieces are matching and original, apart from the barrel, which is a close match with serial number 30175. The supplied m'piece is a George Howarth, which is, again, in good used condition. The case is the original in fair condition, it still latches and locks.