Alto Clarinet in E-flat

Victor Charles Mahillon (born Brussels 10 March 1841; died St Jean-Cap Ferrat 17 June 1924) was the eldest son of Charles Boromée Mahillon and nephew of G. C. Bachmann. Bachmann & Mahillon was by 1856 the most important wind instrument factory in Belgium and supplier to the army. Victor Charles joined the business in circa 1865, and gained importance as inventor, acoustician, organologist, journalist and collector. He became the first ‘curator’ at the Brussels musical instrument museum in 1877.

Overall size: 720
Bore: 16.5
Technical description: Cocus wood with brass keywork, crook and bell. Five pieces: mouthpiece, crook, upper section, lower section, and upturned bell. Cocus wood mouthpiece intended for a ligature. Brass crook with device for a music card holder. Straight speaker, speaker tone hole on the back of the instrument featured with a chimney. Speaker liner projects ca. 4 mm into the bore. All tone holes under plates. Shaped thumb rest with sling ring directly above. End-pivoted key on L0. Only forked B♭3/F♮5. Vent key above R1. R1, R2 and R3 mounted on a rod-axle. 12 keys, 7 plates.

L0:   P; speaker.
L1:   P; throat A♮; throat A♭.
L2:   P.
L3:   P; E♭4/B♭5.
L4:   C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1:   P; side F4/ C6; side E♭4/B♭5; side trill key for throat A-B♮ and B♭-C.
R2:   P.
R3:   P.
R4:   F3/C5; G♯3/E♭5.

Keyhead type: shallow cups.
Keymount type: screwed in pillars.

Inscribed on upper section with Coat of arms of Belgium / "C. MAHILLON / BRUXELLES" / star; on lower section star / "C. MAHILLON BRUXELLES" / star; and on bell "C. MAHILLON / FOURNISSEUR BREVETE / DE L’ARMEE / ET DES / CONSERVATOIRES / BRUXELLES"

Playing accessories: one reed (modern) and a ligature.

(Heike Fricke, 2014)