Conn Albert System Clarinet: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This clarinet was made by C.G. Conn in Elkhart, Indiana around 1887 to 1895. It is an Albert System clarinet in B-flat made of ebonite with a double-walled nickel silver bell and barrel. This clarinet is stamped:

In a C.G. Conn catalog from 1897, “Mineralized Ebonite Wonder Clarinets,” instruments are described:

“Are handsome as well as indestructible instruments. They are made of special mineralized material, are as black as ebony, have a high and permanent polish, are hard, yet light and durable, are impervious to moisture, will neither swell nor warp.”

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1887-1895
• maker: C. G. Conn
• Object Name: clarinet
• Physical Description: ebonite (overall material)
• Physical Description: nickel silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 22 1/2 in x 3 in; 57.15 cm x 7.62 cm
• Measurements: cap: 2 7/8 in x 1 3/8 in; 7.3025 cm x 3.4925 cm
• Measurements: mouthpiece: 3 11/16 in x 1 1/2 in; 9.36625 cm x 3.81 cm
• Measurements: barrel: 2 5/8 in x 1 1/4 in; 6.6675 cm x 3.175 cm
• Measurements: upper joint: 8 1/2 in x 1 3/4 in; 21.59 cm x 4.445 cm
• Measurements: lower joint: 9 3/4 in x 1 7/8 in; 24.765 cm x 4.7625 cm
• place made: United States: Indiana, Elkhart
• ID Number: 1988.0498.01
• accession number: 1988.0498
• catalog number: 1988.0498.01
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.