Clarinet in E-flat

According to the city archives in Münster, Franz Lauter was a turner born 7 April 1816 in Münster. His parents were the turner Ernst Lauter and Catharine nee Terlinde. Franz Lauter had six siblings of which 4 brothers were also turners.He came from Münster to the US in 1845. He claimed to have won prize medals at the 1844 Berlin World’s Fair, and at the 1853 New York Crystal Palace Exhibition. (Nancy Groce, Musical Instrument Makers of New York, Pendagron Press 1991, 95. Waterhouse, NLI, 226.)

Overall size: 495
Bore: c-hole 12.2, f-hole 12.2.
Conical part: 90

Technical description: Boxwood with horn ferrules and brass keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section and middle section for the fingers of the right hand in one piece, lower section with keys, bell. Ebony mouthpiece not grooved. Bulgy barrel. Speaker liner projects about 4mm into the bore. No key for F4/ C6. Wooden integral thumb rest. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a fusiform swelling. Wooden guidance for F♯3/C♯5 lever. Bell with a wooden rim.

L0:   T; speaker.
L1:   T; throat A♮; throat A♭.
L2:   T.
L3:   T; E♭4/B♭5.
L4:   C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1:   T.
R2:   T.
R3:   T; cross B♭3/F♮5.
R4:   T; G♯3/E♭5.

Keyhead type: saltspoon.
Keymount type: blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece "F. LAUTER / MÜNSTER".
Playing accessories: reed and string (not original)
(Heike Fricke, 2014)