Winchester, New Hampshire
Graves & Company

Boxwood, ivory, brass, ebony
ca.  1832-1850
Length: 26.25 in, Bell diameter: 3 in
Wind Instruments – Woodwind Instruments – Single Reed

Stamped on each piece:  GRAVES & Co / WINCHESTER / N.H.   The upper joint and bell also displays a stamped ‘Eagle’ Logo above the name. In addition, the bell has the letter ‘B’ under N. H.

This Simple system clarinet in ‘B-flat’ comes in five pieces with the original mouthpiece. Each of the five parts are marked Graves and Company. The instrument is made of boxwood, with 5 sections of ivory ferrules and an ivory rim bell.  It has seven finger holes and a thumb hole.  There are five brass keys with flat, round covers, mounted in blocks and a lower joint stock bulge, with flat springs attached to the keys. The F-sharp/C-sharp key on this Graves clarinet is straight, as is common on Continental instruments.

Samuel Graves (1794-1878), began making woodwind instruments in West Fairlee, Vermont, in 1824. He subsequently moved to Winchester, New Hampshire, and opened a new workshop along with three partners (Graves & Alexander), in 1827. From 1832, the company was known as Graves & Co.

 Johann Christoph Denner is believed to have invented the clarinet in Germany around the year 1700 by adding a register key to the earlier chalumeau, usually in the key of ‘C.’   Over time, additional keywork and pads were added to improve the tone and playability. By the late eighteenth century it had gained popularity in both chamber music and orchestral music.

Resource:  Rice, Albert R. (1992). The Baroque Clarinet. Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-19-516954-6.