Couesnon S.A.

Serial #: none, but there is a batch mark: 10A.

Thanks to Frode in Norway for giving me the opportunity to review this clarinet!

Barrel: 65.7mm

Bore LH joint top: 14.3mm

Bore LH joint at bottom: 14.65mm

This is the reverse of poly-cylindrical!The S.A. was probably a student-level Couesnon product. I wonder if the “A” stands for Army, as there is a built in hole for a marching lyre and the bell is made of hard rubber. I would also say that the S.A. was made around 1935.

Couesnon traits include

• a batch mark under the keys consisting of a letter and a low 2-3 digit number
• some have a factory installed lyre holder for marching
• The tenon-protecting rings are wide, except for the top of the barrel.
• throat tone G# does not have an adjustment screw,
• and the A and G# keys share one post (perhaps not on all, if the Monopole was made by Couesnon).
• The A throat tone key has a short rod, because there is a socket to accept the screw.
• some have one post for the two top left-hand pinkie keys, and newer models have two posts. The left pinkie keys do not have the pronounced downward hook-shape at the top touch-point of the key.
• the right hand bridge linking part is straight, without a flare
• there is a chiselled out area under the right pinkie keys.
• The spring under the throat tone F# is on the first post pointing down, not on the second post point up.