Jack Dannenberg wrote:

"There are many requests on this list for information on some dusty old instrument made by the XYZ company. There is a book available, albeit somewhat expensive, titled The New Langwill Index: a Dictionary of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors. The author is W.R. Waterhouse. It is available at Tony Bingham's in London.

I believe the book was about $100, but perhaps it is available from some library interloan program. It lists a lot of manufacturers, when and where they were in business and also what dates they changed their names such as Boosey and Son's from 18xx-19xx and then changed to Boosey and Hawkes. It does not contain information about particular instruments or serial numbers as I recall."

Tony Bingham
11 Pond St.
London NW3 2PN
Tel. 0171-7941596
FAX 0171-4333662

Nick Shackleton wrote about this book:

"This is a big (560 pages) compendium with about 6500 makers listed; information on their lives, their inventions, pictures of many makers' marks, etc. Last year it got a "best book" award from a Librarians Association. It's not something that every clarinettist needs but something to know about, and certainly something that every clarinettist interested in historic clarinets and every repairer/dealer and library needs. It costs you 66 pounds by sea mail and Tony takes credit cards (if you can't wait, 80 pounds by air to the US Japan etc)."

I (Mark Charette, Webmaster) have a copy; please check both here and on the Bulletin Board before sending me mail. If you don't find it in either place then email me at music@woodwind.org. It may take some time before I get back to you, however.

The following list is for the purpose of identifying the parent company or maker of a woodwind. This can be useful if the trade name is the only name is on the instrument. This list is for names that do not include, in part or whole, the name of the maker or manufacturer. In many cases bore information can be found by searching the Bulletin Board