tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post2444917951512415098..comments2024-03-23T09:18:34.779-07:00Comments on RoadToParnassus: How Many Brass Mouthpieces Do You Need?Parnassushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-49703947770408660942021-01-29T04:37:10.259-08:002021-01-29T04:37:10.259-08:00The H.N.White company has a complicated history st...The H.N.White company has a complicated history starting in 1893, and probably Conn today owns the White trademark, even if they don't make use of it. Instruments and mouthpieces marked White probably range from the late 1800's to about WWII. <br /><br />The best guide to dating would be the general characteristics of the mouthpiece--the profile, bore, style of lettering etc. The "41" on the mouthpiece is likely a size indicator, and almost certainly not a date. If people know the White brand at all, describing the mouthpiece as circa early 20th century would suit most purposes. <br /><br />If you need to narrow it down I would look for parallel, dated examples. Also, there is a site on the internet about H.N. White that seems to be run by family members, and they might have more information. --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-39054631174923467512021-01-26T14:22:29.178-08:002021-01-26T14:22:29.178-08:00How do you determine the age of one of the HN Whit...How do you determine the age of one of the HN White Cornet mouth pieces. I have one where the number 41 is on the bottom part near where it fits into the cornet. I suspect it comes from the 1910s or early 1920s but I do not know how to figure this out for sure.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02224219190223703937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-33402564916050425082018-01-27T11:06:22.258-08:002018-01-27T11:06:22.258-08:00Hello Loi, Since you specialize in decorative pie...Hello Loi, Since you specialize in decorative pieces, you might not have noticed a mouthpiece lying somewhere in the background. Also, a lot of them were found in old music shops. You are right about the ivory ones, they are among the earliest and hardest to find. --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-37735306154565204552018-01-27T10:17:38.636-08:002018-01-27T10:17:38.636-08:00Hello Jim,
That is quite the collection - wow! All...Hello Jim,<br />That is quite the collection - wow! All these years of antiquing and buying, I've never come across a brass mouthpiece. Thanks for sharing your collection and for educating us. The ivory ones must be very rare??<br />Cheers<br />L Woodside Parkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13981644571968878448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-31337599550368807682018-01-26T23:42:53.283-08:002018-01-26T23:42:53.283-08:00Hello Debra, I started out by fooling around with...Hello Debra, I started out by fooling around with some old brass instruments, and soon discovered the tremendous difference that different mouthpieces made. That started my quest to seek out as many examples as possible. --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-4302424250622325702018-01-26T18:10:08.749-08:002018-01-26T18:10:08.749-08:00Hi, thanks for popping by my blog today! Wow, you ...Hi, thanks for popping by my blog today! Wow, you sure know your mouthpieces!Debra She Who Seekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01845703092794695023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-55223651033488336542018-01-25T05:15:29.698-08:002018-01-25T05:15:29.698-08:00Hello rtc, I added a photo of the mill when it was...Hello rtc, I added a photo of the mill when it was intact to the Painesville article. It was quite a large complex of buildings--one cannot realize that by looking at the few remaining stones. --Jim Parnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-2581549580180106292018-01-25T03:43:10.514-08:002018-01-25T03:43:10.514-08:00Hello Jim, I saw the sluiceway of the river. Peopl...Hello Jim, I saw the sluiceway of the river. People piled up the stones with sweat. It speaks no words but you can hear its voice. Hence it can be said that this ruin still keeps value.roughterrain cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12394547924137198019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-9117385970063260032018-01-24T07:10:03.340-08:002018-01-24T07:10:03.340-08:00Hello Mark, While these mouthpieces look good ups...Hello Mark, While these mouthpieces look good upside-down, in order to display them upright I inserted bamboo skewers in a block of Styrofoam; I could probably devise something more permanent. They are all in Cleveland (except for that alto one); Taipei's air is so corrosive that it would instantly destroy any silver that they have remaining! <br /><br />Do you have your grandfather's flute and did you hear him play? I wonder what make it was, and whether it was wooden or metal.<br />--JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-53905669951457033412018-01-24T05:57:51.271-08:002018-01-24T05:57:51.271-08:00Dear Jim,
This may well be my favorite of all you...Dear Jim,<br /><br />This may well be my favorite of all your postings. These mouthpieces are all so sculptural that they really should be out on permanent display. I could see a narrow wall with rows of shelving about 3" deep. But something also tells me that you would need to build an addition to wherever you're living! The photograph of your great-grandfather reminded me of my own grandfather who was a wonderful flute player.Mark D. Ruffnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241533547309049140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-28463876472995729692018-01-23T04:01:28.356-08:002018-01-23T04:01:28.356-08:00Hello rtc, While nature all by itself is divine, ...Hello rtc, While nature all by itself is divine, it can be even more fascinating when it is covering up traces of the former presence of people. Your quote vividly reminded me of the last few photos in the post I did on Painesville, with the Grand River flowing by the last traces of the old Mill:<br />http://roadtoparnassus.blogspot.tw/2012/08/a-perfect-day-in-painesville-ohio.html<br /><br />--JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-52218712859949847502018-01-23T01:49:27.104-08:002018-01-23T01:49:27.104-08:00Hello Jim. Thanks for your comment. I imagine you ...Hello Jim. Thanks for your comment. I imagine you have the same feeling as I. You would understand this point concerning about the Chinese literary tradition more than I. Nature is eternal while human is mortal.閣中帝子今何在 檻外長江空自流 roughterrain cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12394547924137198019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-84652434338565155082018-01-16T04:21:55.008-08:002018-01-16T04:21:55.008-08:00Hello rtc, When my college band started playing s...Hello rtc, When my college band started playing some of the old brass solos, that piqued my interest, and soon I was collecting old cornet records and learning to play a bit with old, unused instruments that were in the band room.<br /><br />Thank you for your kind greetings--yes, pretty soon it is time to get ready for Chinese New Year! --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-47327284372654842442018-01-16T02:29:33.476-08:002018-01-16T02:29:33.476-08:00You have excellently made up your world with the b...You have excellently made up your world with the brass instruments.<br />春節快要來了。祝你身體健康,工作順利。roughterrain cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12394547924137198019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-35925388407789807062018-01-13T09:51:27.421-08:002018-01-13T09:51:27.421-08:00Hello Contessa, Happy New Year to you, too! I lov...Hello Contessa, Happy New Year to you, too! I love the look of all things musical, even the instruments I can't play. I'll bet that now you will see some of these mouthpieces that had always been hiding in the background. What I wonder is how so many of these became separated from their instruments, since brass instruments are usually carried and stored in their cases. --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-55509962932635929852018-01-13T08:49:32.248-08:002018-01-13T08:49:32.248-08:00THIS WAS FASCINATING!
I LOVE THIS COLLECTION!
I kn...THIS WAS FASCINATING!<br />I LOVE THIS COLLECTION!<br />I know NOTHING about MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS but I enjoyed this VERY MUCH!<br />I will KEEP MY EYES PEELED as I wonder the FLEA MARKETS!!!!!!!<br />HAPPY NEW YEAR!<br />LA CONTESSALa Contessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01682902106545680159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-87764698026556643052018-01-11T23:16:20.886-08:002018-01-11T23:16:20.886-08:00Hello CD, It is a lot of fun buying a new mouthpie...Hello CD, It is a lot of fun buying a new mouthpiece and hoping that it will turn out to be The One. After a while, you can intuit some of their characteristics just by looking at them, but the only real test is trying them on an instrument.<br /><br />You are right, the ivory mouthpieces do look like old ceramic in the photos, but in your hand they are light, and the ivory cross-hatch patterns can be seen clearly. Usually it is the bass mouthpieces that are ivory or sometimes wood. They were reputed to give a softer tone, but I am guessing that these were often played outdoors and that large metal mouthpieces would not warm up quickly enough. --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-43583669071524837782018-01-11T13:53:06.362-08:002018-01-11T13:53:06.362-08:00Hello Jim,
What a wonderful collection you have o...Hello Jim,<br /><br />What a wonderful collection you have on your hands (lips)! I must admit to having never seen an entire collection of these mouthpieces and at first, I thought they were hose nozzles. <br /><br />I do like the way the brass has hung around on the ivory mouthpieces turning them green. They almost look as though they were made of glazed earthenware. <br /><br />Happy New Year to you and I think you should post a clip of you playing so we can all marvel at your talents.Chronica Domushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06732224119040843337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-60483998694280241242018-01-10T08:07:45.516-08:002018-01-10T08:07:45.516-08:00Hello grazia cantalupo, I am glad if you enjoy my...Hello grazia cantalupo, I am glad if you enjoy my blog and want to follow it. I am working on some articles that I hope you wioll find worthwhile. --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-30593174512744225622018-01-10T01:02:15.142-08:002018-01-10T01:02:15.142-08:00Hello dear your Blog is very nice for this now I f...Hello dear your Blog is very nice for this now I follow you as a fixed reader!(#51) Do you want to return the subscription? The gfc bar, in my blog, is on the RIGHT scrolling the Blog a lot! I'll wait for you if you like it thanks http://casaninnamamma.blogspot.it <br />grazia cantalupohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956343664059317922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-9856744785360438042018-01-07T08:37:01.912-08:002018-01-07T08:37:01.912-08:00Hello KL Gaylin, Happy New Year to you, too. My g...Hello KL Gaylin, Happy New Year to you, too. My grandfather also studied music at the New England Conservatory. Yes, clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces are every bit as exacting as brass ones. As I mentioned in a comment above, I played contrabass clarinet in the band at college, and I also fool around with soprano clarinets, so I learned something about single-reed mouthpieces (I have a good one that makes even cheap clarinets tolerable to play!). From the oboe I learned about reed trimming, so I recommend getting your husband a good reed knife so he can learn to adjust reeds to his own requirements. --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-29162890625806893792018-01-07T08:07:29.574-08:002018-01-07T08:07:29.574-08:00Happy New Year Jim! This was just fascinating beca...Happy New Year Jim! This was just fascinating because my husband plays the clarinet. He has two instruments that he's owned for 45+ years and one from high school. His favorite mouthpieces are crystal and again, several are decades old. His most frequent complaint is finding the right reeds. Although professionally trained (masters from New England Conservatory), he went to business school to make a living. In retirement, he plays in a community concert band, sits on a music school board and wrote a book about managing in the performing arts. Our cats run under the bed when he practices his clarinet, but they are Philistines.<br />Best,<br />KL GaylinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-73942140814164568662018-01-02T23:31:40.619-08:002018-01-02T23:31:40.619-08:00Hello Barbara, It seems that every day we find mor...Hello Barbara, It seems that every day we find more instances of the saying, "if everyone doesn't want it, no one gets it." However, although I am interested in older instruments, there are modern boutique makers who make specialized mouthpieces suited to current instruments and playing practice. Just expect to pay through the nose! --JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-56754066619040761602018-01-02T16:54:25.978-08:002018-01-02T16:54:25.978-08:00Dear Jim! You are a splendid mouthpiece for....wel...Dear Jim! You are a splendid mouthpiece for....well, you know. Like everything on this earth, it seems, the more you dig into it, the more interesting it becomes. In this world of mass-produced stuff, it's kind of special to know the attention to detail once given to something as seemingly simple as a mouthpiece. Well done.Silver in the Barnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574887243600325050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314235093749031486.post-37713578044535598962017-12-30T05:35:56.509-08:002017-12-30T05:35:56.509-08:00Hello Rosemary, You have sharp eyes to spot that b...Hello Rosemary, You have sharp eyes to spot that background photo. That actually is my great-grandfather, the tuba player's father-in-law. I miss both of them!<br /><br />I only have two mouthpieces in Taiwan--oddly enough the best and the worst, the Jupiter and the Victorian alto. Perhaps I'll take a tip from Bazza's comment about Jules Levy and just use blow on the mouthpiece.<br /><br />Happy New year to you, too. It is I who need to thank you for all your posts that have provided so much entertainment and knowledge.<br />--JimParnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.com