Clarinet in A. Dalbergia melanoxylon (African blackwood, grenadilla)). Nickel silver ferrules and keys. Boehm system fingering with speaker/register key at front of body. Keys are pillar mounted with circular cups and leather pads. Five joints connected by cork lapped tenons apart from string lapped tenon on mouthpiece. Ferrules extended to line sockets. Stamped inscription appearing on every joint: BUFFET/Crampon & Cie/A.PARIS; Extended version on upper joint: BUFFET/Crampon & Cie/A.PARIS/BREVETES/S.G.D.G; Every joint apart from the mouthpiece also has a harp emblem stamped on the front and the number 1200 stamped on the back. The upper joint is also stamped: APPROVED/BY/J.PARK; The lower joint and bell are also stamped: LAZARUS; A paper label is attached to the back of the upper joint with a hand written description in D.J. Blaikley's hand: 125 A CLARIN/COCUSWOOD/BOEHM SYST
This clarinet is stamped with the name of Henry Lazarus, who taught at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. He promoted the Boehm system clarinet to his students and recommended it in his tutor. This is the key system most used by clarinettists in Britain today.
