Charles Bay

[Carl H.]

I have in my hands a Charles Bay soprano mouthpiece with the marking

O-L
H1644

hand engraved on the side. It is in a tube marked with a gold foil label:

ARTIST QUALITY
BAY-GALE MOUTHPIECES
FOR CLARINET AND SAXOPHONE
CUSTOM - MADE BY
CHARLES BAY

I slapped a reed on it ind it plays quite nicely, if a bit mellow for my tastes. It belongs to a friend and he wants to know what there is to know about it.

The original price sticker on the tube is for $40.00 - hand written. The cork is good, engraving sharp and fully colored - white. It has been played, but it is not chewed on at all, and a disreputable dealer could buff this and sell it as new - vintage. Facing is clean with no nicks or other marks.


What do the engraved markings mean, and how much might this be worth?
​

 

[Merlin]

O-L
H1644

hand engraved on the side. It is in a tube marked with a gold foil label:

The original price sticker on the tube is for $40.00 - hand written. The cork is good, engraving sharp and fully colored - white. It has been played, but it is not chewed on at all, and a disreputable dealer could buff this and sell it as new - vintage. Facing is clean with no nicks or other marks.


What do the engraved markings mean, and how much might this be worth?
​

Not sure on the value, though I'd give you double the sticker price sight unseen!

O - open tip
L - long facing curve.

You'll see a lot of Bay clarinet mouthpieces marked "MOM" - that's Medium Open tip, medium facing curve.

Almost everything I've ever tried by Bay is great. I have one of his clarinet ligs on my setup at the moment.