Clarinet in C

Richard Bilton claimed himself ‘late apprentice and foreman to Cramer’ and traded from 93 Westminster Bridge Road, London, between 1826 and 1856. (Waterhouse, NLI, 32)

Overall size: 586
Bore: c-hole 13.6; f-hole 13.6
Conical part: 130

Technical description:Boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, and bell. Contemporary socket-type mouthpiece grooved for cord. Flask shaped barrel. All tone-holes under keys lined with brass. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Long tailed throat A♭ key for L2. All cross keys except for C♯4/G♯5 mounted in wooden blocks. This is, because there was not enough space for a wooden block. This key and all side keys mounted in saddles. Duplicate cross key for B♮3/F♯5. Levers for L4 as well as tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Bevelled G♯3/E♭5 touch piece. Guidance for zig-zag F♯3/C♯5 lever.

L0:   T; speaker.
L1:   T; throat A♮.
L2:   T; throat A♭.
L3:   T; E♭4/B♭5.
L4:   C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1:   T; side F4/ C6; side trill key for throat A-B♮ and B♭-C.
R2:   T; additional cross B♮3/F♯5.
R3:   T; cross B♭3/F♮5; side B♮3/F♯5.
R4:   T; G♯3/E♭5.

Keyhead type: flat round.
Keymount type: blocks, saddles, and swelling.
Inscribed on barrel, both sections, and bell "BILTON / LONDON" / unicorn head; on bell also "93 WESTMINSTER / BRIDGE ROAD".
Inscribed on all pieces except for barrel and mouthpiece "SCOTS – FUSR-GDS". Also stamped on all pieces "2", on barrel "# 2".

Inscribed on mouthpiece "CHAs [CHARLES] PACE/LONDON". Inscription on the reed side of the mouthpiece indicates that it has to be played with the reed towards the upper lip. No traces of teeth on the mouthpiece. Charles Pace’s workshop in London flourished 1830-1883 (Waterhouse, NLI, 289).

Playing accessories: One red (not original) and a black string.
(Heike Fricke, 2014)