[Tradjazz] Gretsch Clarinets

[Steve Barbone]

"trevor rippingale" <trevrip at bigpond.com>

> 
> Dear fellow discussion groupers,
> S.O.S. for information : "badging" of instruments.
> I have a metal clarinet branded "GRETSCH" , Serial Number : 9243A
> I can't find any internet reference to clarinets being made by this famous
> company, so I assume this must have been a marketing ploy having had them made
> by another company, e.g. Conn, Buescher, Martin, King etc.
> Can anyone advise me please
> (i) whether this is so, which company(ies) actually made the instrument, did
> Gretsch market other horns in this way as well, and if so in which years ?
> Perhaps there may be a serial number catalogue I can consult ?
> (ii) the year of manufacture of the serial number above ?
> (iii) what other "badge engineering" took place with other makes, and when ?
> I'm aware of C Melody saxophones branded "VEGA" and "WURLITZER".  What other
> firms might have done similarly, and for what sort of instruments and when ?
> I'd be most appreciative of any information anyone can give me. I find this a
> fascinating can of worms, and one I can't seem to crack open on the internet.
> Trevor Rippingale (New Wolverines, Sydney)

Hi Trevor:

You might try a google search for <Gretsch + Clarinet>.

There are some of them on sale at Ebay etc, and more hits there.

You might also check out "Kohlert", a German or Czech instrument
manufacturer. The below quote from a blog on the web seems to indicate that
Gretch may have been importing and re-badging clarinets made by Kohlert.

---
"I have a Fred Gretsch Manufacturing Company "The Gretsch Album of
Woodwinds" with a January 1961 price list that lists that only lists their
clarinets and bassoon. The only saxes listed were Beaugnier ($250 for alto
and $300 for tenor) Monopole ($200 for alto, $260 for tenor, and $360 for
Baritone), and the Grafton which listed at $167.50 plus $28.00 for the case.
I always figured Gretsch was importing all of the Kohlert products but as of
1961 they were only listing clarinets and the Bassoon."

---
You might also try:

http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/

They are the best source of information about clarinets that I know of. They
have a chat list etc., and you can register and ask about your Gretsch.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone