Clarinet in B-flat
John Meacham jr. (born Enfield/CT 2 May 1785; died Albany/NY 8 December 1844) and his younger brother Horace (born Enfield/CT 19 July 1789; died Albany/NY 1861) conducted a joint workshop after 1813. They used the stamp mentioned below between 1813 and 1827. (Waterhouse, NLI, 257)
Overall size: 590
Bore: c-hole 12.8; f-hole 13.7
Conical part: 135
Technical description: Boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Six pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, middle section for the fingers of the right hand and lower section with keys in one piece, bell. Typical English socket-type blackwood mouthpiece with an ivory ferrule, grooved for cord. English tenon-type flask-shaped barrel (replacement). Throat keys in rudiments of turned wooden rings. Thick walls. Pins to strengthen the wood. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Guidance for zig-zag F♯3/C♯5. Bevelled G♯3/E♭5.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat square
Keymount type: blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on barrel "4 / KEY / LONDON / unicorn head"; on all other pieces "J & H MEACHAM / ALBANY" (very faint); on bell also "B" (later inscription, not a stamp).
Playing accessories: one reed and a string (both not original).
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Overall size: 590
Bore: c-hole 12.8; f-hole 13.7
Conical part: 135
Technical description: Boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Six pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, middle section for the fingers of the right hand and lower section with keys in one piece, bell. Typical English socket-type blackwood mouthpiece with an ivory ferrule, grooved for cord. English tenon-type flask-shaped barrel (replacement). Throat keys in rudiments of turned wooden rings. Thick walls. Pins to strengthen the wood. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Guidance for zig-zag F♯3/C♯5. Bevelled G♯3/E♭5.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat square
Keymount type: blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on barrel "4 / KEY / LONDON / unicorn head"; on all other pieces "J & H MEACHAM / ALBANY" (very faint); on bell also "B" (later inscription, not a stamp).
Playing accessories: one reed and a string (both not original).
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in B-flat
- Maker: Horace Meacham (American, Enfield, Connecticut 1789–1861 Albany, New York)
- Maker: John Meacham (American, Enfield, Connecticut 1785–1844 Albany, New York)
- Date: ca. 1825
- Geography: Albany, New York
- Culture: American
- Medium: Boxwood, ebony, ivory, brass
- Dimensions: L. 59 cm (23-1/4 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1988
- Object Number: 1988.29
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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