LA CHAPELLE

[Ed Svoboda]

So I picked up this clarinet some time ago that is wood and the brand name is "LA CHAPELLE". My research doesn't come up with much besides some student instruments that may have been made in Italy. This clarinet is wood and was made in France.

The serial number is 13343. There's a G in front of the serial number. The case and the horn has a stickers on it from Ron Gould Studios 216 N. Clinton Chicago Illinois 60606. There's a phone number as well but let's just assume that Ron's not there anymore :D

It came with a Wells mouthpiece and some empty reed sleeves from The Sax Shop (which is probably where the Wells mouthpiece came from).

Is there any other information that might help me figure out who made it?

[pete]

Brief Googling:

* Some were imported by Carl Fischer.
* A metal one sold for about $30 a couple years ago.

No other significant hits.

Just based on CF as the importer, one wonders if this was an Evette-Schaeffer brand.

[Ed Svoboda]

I also saw one go for $149. I got it cheap and mostly bought it for the mouthpiece. Maybe Steve will weigh in with common French makes who stenciled instruments.

[SteveSklar]

Ed - pics would help as alot of your French makers had rebranded instruments. The most commonly know stencil maker was SML. Normally you have to compare pics of the instrument and compare by the keywork.