[Hornlip]

Anybody know what years this company was in operation?

 

[meth]

Early 1900s til the 70's when the factory burned down.

 

[Hornlip]

They didn't rise from the Ashes like Conn? Too bad!!

I just picked up a plastic or hard rubber clarinet stamped with Prueffer's logo. It's also stamped "made in Germany", so I guess Prueffer contracted out to someone else for a student instrument. The clarinet's in such good shape I assumed it was made fairly recently, and the 70's would be in line with that.

Pretty good plastic clarinet, by the way. Strong keywork, nice tone, and good intonation!! Definately a good deal for an eBay snag -- only $30-odd dollars including shipping, and it's actually in good playing shape.

 

[meth]

The clarinet's in such good shape I assumed it was made fairly recently, and the 70's would be in line with that.

http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/AJPR.html

The link above has some serial ranges by year, but I know there's another site with better range.

Pruefer 
1934 - 1938  6851 
1939 - 1941  13152 
1942 - 1948  19699 
1949 - 1950  27106 
1951 - 1953  34081 
1954 - 1955  41571

 

[super20dan]

you should play one of the rubber ones they made . great jazz horn0the biggest sound of any clarinet i have ever picked up. have a coin silver linner in the bore. greatly enhances projection and they have the second biggest bore of any clarinet ever made(next to the b&h ) this model is called the silverthroat

 

[Roger Aldridge]

Just found this old thread in a search.

Has anyone been able to aproximately date later Pruefer serial numbers? I recently got a Silver Throat Deluxe on ebay that has a 527xx serial number. First impressions are positive. The ST is being given a full overhaul and I'll report back after it's done.

Super20dan -- do you happen to know the bore size (in inches...like .590) of your ST?

Thanks, Roger

 

[super20dan]

rog- some time ago another silver throat owner who was an engineer measured his and it was close to .600! lets just say the bore is really big! only the boosey imperial 1010 is bigger that i know of. try this horn out for big band! its perfect for this as it really projects and the rubber needs less warm up . with synth reeds you should get a HUGE sound out of it. i really love mine and even bought a second one as a spare. i played a lot of german music and dixie with mine as well as big band.

 

[super20dan]

there are 2 versions of this clarinet . the standard has a plastic bell and barrel but the deluxe is all hard rubber.

 

[Roger Aldridge]

My ST is back from the shop getting an overhaul and I spent the past couple of hours playing it and comparing it to my (treasured) Couesnon Monopole.

Man, I LOVE this Silver Throat Deluxe. It's everything you described super20dan! Good intonation. BIG fat sound. It's a joy to play. Kind of like taking an old muscle car out on the road.

Comparing it to my Couesnon Monopole....

At times it seems the ST has the bigger sound and at other times it seems the CM's is bigger...or more projecting. Either clarinet will not have any problems in a big band.

One thing that's 100% clear to me is the ST does NOT have the tonal "ring" that my CM has. My CM has an exceptional sound. I cannot help but think in large measure it comes from its high quality 40 year old grenadilla wood. I have yet to find a non-wood clarinet (I'm not including the Greenline) that truly rings.

I realize there are some folks who are of the opinion that material does not matter. But, that has not been my experience. For me, hard rubber produces a better quality sound than plastic and high quality grenadilla wood is more resonant/ringing than hard rubber. Never the less, I really like the Silver Throat!

I went back and forth between Grabner K14 and K11 mouthpieces on the ST. Both sound REALLY GOOD on it with my #3 Legere Quebec and Klassik string ligature set up. As of right now I'm leaning toward the K14.

I'm really grateful to you, super20dan, for your rave reviewes about the ST. It inspired me to jump on this one when I saw it on ebay.

Now, I'm having a great time with the Guses: Gus Buescher and Gus Pruefer! Ha ha ha

Roger

 

[super20dan]

for german band i use a woodwind larry coombs 3 with bay lig . for traditional big band i use a brilhart tonalin (vintage model) and for contemp big band and dixie i use a rico metalite with harrison lig.

 

[Roger Aldridge]

Just had my ST's bore measured. It's .585.

 

[Roger Aldridge]

Wanted to circle back one last time about the Silver Throat Deluxe.

I'm continuing to enjoy it. One of my clarinet buddies tried it last night and to my ears he had a much bigger sound on the ST than normally with his Leblanc.

Thanks again to Super20dan for the recommendation!

Roger

 

[super20dan]

its a killer jazz horn for shure. i hope more people discover these hidden gems

 

[NiChristi]

I have a Pruefer Ultima Alto that's in good condition. I'm looking to sell it, but I have no idea how much its worth. I bought it for about $500. Thoughts?

 

[spike421]

It's probably better to start your own thread, since this is an old thread and will most likely not get much play. Post pictures of the horn and ask if any one has knowledge of or can identify the horn and it's worth. You should include where it's made, US, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, etc., if you can tell, and a serial number.

 

[cyclopathic]

History:
Pruefer started clarinet company in 1906.
In 1914 he merged with Penzel and Mueller to form Penzel Mueller and Pruefer
In 1920 Pezel had died, Mueller gained control of the company and Pruefer retired
In 1920 Gus Pruefer had traveled to Markneukirchen, Germany and helped Moennig to modernize factory
1921 Restarted Pruefer clarinet company in US (young Hans Moennig joins Pruefer in RI)
1976 Factory in RI burned