Description

B-flat clarinet – OEHLER, Oscar

Oscar OEHLER (1858-1936) started as an apprentice organ builder who took lessons in the clarinet. He became an excellent clarinettist and one of the founding members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. This passion led him to experiment with mouthpieces and also try to make improvements to the clarinet. He set up his own workshop in 1887 in Berlin and also doubled as a sworn expert for woodwinds in the area of Berlin. In 1906, he obtained the title of “Purveyor to the Prussian Court”. His experiments and improvements led to many patents and his famous future “Oehler system” clarinets. When he died in 1936, his apprentice Josef ROUSCHIL (1879-1963) continued the business until his own death in 1963.

This clarinet is made of grenadilla with silver-plated nickel silver keywork and rings. All parts (except for the mouthpiece) are stamped with the Oehler stamp. The instrument is quite heavy and typically German in style with a well-made mechanism – it feels great to the touch and seems ergonomic. We can see that all the clarinet’s main connections feature adjusting screws.

This Oehler clarinet has been cherished and frequently played, showing some signs of wear. The silver-plating is worn in spots, and there are minor hairline cracks in the bell. However, it is still in very good condition overall! A fantastic instrument for its age, built to last!