There is no serial number on my clarinet so how can i fine how old it is?

Answer 1

This is a good general question (especially since the asker didn't specify which manufacturer or model his Clarinet is).

With wooden wind instruments, through the centuries during which they have been made, different markings were used to identify the maker, model, individual craftsman, and even special attributes. Additionally, modern instruments have a development history, and 'original instruments' or 'historical instruments' can often be identified by their key arrangement, the number of keys, and in some cases, the materials used for keys, pads, bushings, ferrules and other such aspects.

One thing which is least likely to help in identifying single-reed instruments' age is the mouthpiece, because the mouthpiece can be worn, broken or 'chewed' until they must be replaced. The remainder of the instruments are much more likely to survive in their original condition.

So. The first thing to do is determine if the instrument is a modern or precursor form. With Clarinets, this can be an interesting process, but it is always safe to say that a plastic instrument is less than 100 years old. Wooden instruments may be any age, and their modernity is determined by the number and arrangement of keys: Bassoons and clarinets moreso than Saxophones (which have been pretty standardized for a long time and were invented in the 1860's, so aren't likely to be older than that!) Flutes have existed side-by-side for decades with very different-appearing key arrangements, because of "open-hole" and "closed-hole" key arrangements. In any case, there are books which show the evolution of key arrangements and might lend a clue.

If your instrument is modern, it is possible that the company which makes it has changed it's appearance (for instance, Ivory was once used as a decoration and strengthener for joints with regularity, but because of poaching laws, is rarely-to-no-longer-available: the year that a manufacturer stopped using ivory and started using plastic or metal would be an easy ball-park indicator of age.) Also, small marks, which might be difficult to find, or might be in plain sight and never considered, might given an indication of the manufacturer, maker, craftsman, etc.

One final possibility is that your instrument might have a serial number that you just don't know about: Sometimes they were placed under the long parts of keys, especially where those long runs involved more than one tube or key-shaft. This would be an obvious place to 'hide' a serial number on an instrument where the manufacturer felt that a serial number would be too mechanical-looking or 'plebeian' to be in plain sight!

The first one to talk to about this is your instrument repairman. When he services an instrument, often the first step is to remove all the screws and shafts/tubing so he can inspect the pivots to ensure that they are properly fixed. At this point, he would have full view of all hidden surfaces. Additionally, repairmen often know (by sight or feel) the specifics of the instruments they regularly work on, and also study the instruments in their variations so they are prepared for undertaking repairs without surprises.