Pan Am Propeller Clarinet's Worth

The Pan American Propeller Wood Clarinet, also known as the Violin Finish clarinet, is a unique instrument with an interesting history. During World War II, when Grenadilla wood was scarce, Conn created these clarinets from laminated wood, similar to that used in aircraft propellers, to prevent cracking. Introduced in the 1950s, they were intended as entry-level instruments but gained popularity for their striking appearance. While they may not be the best players, they are highly sought after by collectors, with prices ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars.

The Pan American Propeller Wood Clarinet's history

The Pan American Propeller Wood Clarinet is a clarinet made by Conn in Elkhart, Indiana, in the 1950s. It was made from laminated cocobolo wood, which was chosen because it was believed that it would not crack. The worst that happens with this type of wood is that the seams open up due to temperature changes and humidity, but they can be easily glued back together.

The propeller wood clarinet was created as a solution to the scarcity of Grenadilla wood during the Second World War. The use of laminated wood in the clarinet's manufacture also created a very beautiful false grain pattern. These clarinets were left unstained, which, coupled with the bold and symmetrical grain pattern, made them strikingly beautiful instruments. They first appeared in the Spring of 1950 and were discontinued in 1954, after just four years.

While the clarinet was designed to resist cracking, a bad batch of wood caused some of these clarinets to de-laminate, ruining their reputation and ending their production. Officially called the "violin finish," these clarinets are not particularly good players but are in high demand for their looks. They are often sold as is and may need overhauling to be playable.

Today, the Pan American Propeller Wood Clarinet is a collector's item, especially if it is in good condition. They are hard to find and are sought after for their unique appearance and historical significance.

How much is the clarinet currently worth?

The value of a Pan American propeller wood clarinet depends on its condition and the included accessories. On eBay, a vintage Conn Pan American propeller wood clarinet in "nice" condition with a clear mouthpiece sold for $695, while another seller listed the same model for $119. A fully restored Conn Pan-American Cocobolo Bb clarinet, listed as "better than new", sold for an unknown price. Another seller listed a similar clarinet for $1,250, later reducing the price to $1,100.

The Pan American propeller wood clarinet was manufactured by Conn as a cheaper alternative to clarinets made from Grenadilla wood, which was in short supply during World War II. The clarinets were made from laminated Cocobolo plywood, chosen for its resistance to cracking. However, a bad batch of wood caused some clarinets to delaminate, ruining their reputation and leading to the end of production after just a few years.

Despite their poor performance as instruments, these clarinets are sought after for their striking appearance. They feature a bold and symmetrical grain pattern and are left unstained due to the wood's inability to take stain well.

How much was the clarinet originally?

The Pan American "Violin Finish" Clarinet was first listed in the Pan American "The Baton" Newsletter in the Spring of 1950 for $120.00. The clarinet was manufactured by Conn as a cheaper alternative to the standard Grenadilla wood clarinet, which was becoming increasingly scarce during the Second World War.

Conn's innovative use of laminated cocobolo wood, also known as "propeller wood," created a clarinet that was resistant to cracking. However, due to a bad batch of wood, some of these clarinets delaminated, which led to the discontinuation of the model in 1954 after just four years of production.

Today, these clarinets are highly sought after for their unique appearance, with their light-coloured "violin finish" and striking false grain pattern. While they may not be the best players, their rarity and visual appeal make them desirable collectibles.

A fully restored Pan American Propeller Wood Clarinet, complete with a new mouthpiece, ligature, cap, reeds, cork grease, and swab, can be valued at around $1,100 to $1,250. However, the price can vary depending on the instrument's condition and the seller's offer.

What is the clarinet made of?

The clarinet is a woodwind instrument, and as the name suggests, wood is a key material in its construction. The Pan American Propeller Wood Clarinet, for example, was made from plywood, specifically laminated wood or thick plywood similar to that used for manufacturing wooden aircraft propellers. This was a cheaper alternative to Grenadilla wood, which is the traditional raw material for clarinets.

The Pan American clarinet was manufactured by Conn, also known as Conn Corp., as a solution to the scarcity of Grenadilla wood during World War II. While it was advertised as sturdy and unbreakable, these clarinets became notorious for cracking and delaminating.

Today, most modern clarinet bodies are crafted from African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), which includes varieties such as black cocus, Mozambique ebony, grenadilla, and East African ebony. This dark wood gives clarinets their distinctive colour.

Clarinets also have a range of other components, including the mouthpiece, barrel or tuning socket, upper and lower joints, and the bell. The mouthpiece, which is usually made from hard rubber, holds the reed, which is typically crafted from cane. The ligature, which holds the reed in place, can be made from metal, leather/metal combinations, carbon fibre, or synthetic materials. The keys are generally made from a nickel alloy, often referred to as German silver, and they can be plated with silver, gold, or nickel.

In addition to African blackwood, clarinets may also be made from other types of wood, such as boxwood, cocuswood, ebony, or even ivory, although this is rare. Inexpensive student models are often made from artificial resins or, very occasionally, silver or brass.

How does the clarinet play?

The clarinet is a woodwind instrument that produces sound when the player breathes into the mouthpiece, causing a single reed attached to the mouthpiece to vibrate. The clarinet player provides a flow of air at a pressure above that of the atmosphere, which is the source of power input to the instrument. The reed acts like an oscillating valve, and in cooperation with the resonances in the air in the instrument, produces an oscillating component of both flow and pressure. Once the air in the clarinet is vibrating, some of the energy is radiated as sound out of the bell and any open holes.

The clarinet is a closed' pipe, open at the far end or bell, but closed at the other end by the reed. The reed controls the airflow and has a passive role in clarinet acoustics. When the pressure inside the mouthpiece rises, the reed is pushed outwards, and when there is suction, the reed is drawn in towards the bore. Thus, the reed increases and decreases the mouthpiece volume with high or low pressure.

The pitch of the clarinet can be adjusted by unscrewing the barrel and extending the tube. On a hot day, a wind instrument will have a higher pitch, while on cold days its pitch will be lower. Therefore, when the pitch is too high, it can be lowered by unscrewing the barrel and extending the tube. Conversely, when the pitch is too low, it can be raised by screwing the barrel in more tightly and shortening the tube.

The clarinet is played by blowing into the mouthpiece, which makes the reed vibrate and creates sound. The player can then use their fingers to press down on the keys, which cover the tone holes and change the pitch of the sound. Different notes are played by covering different combinations of tone holes.

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