Penzel Mueller Company Serial Number List
Penzel Mueller Company Serial Number List
Penzel Mueller was a musical instrument company that specialized in woodwind instruments, especially clarinets. The company was founded by two German immigrants, Gustav Ludwig Penzel and Edward Mueller, in the early 1890s in Long Island City, New York. Penzel Mueller produced a variety of clarinet models, such as the Artist, the Super Brilliante, the Studio Recording, and the Empire. Some famous clarinetists who played Penzel Mueller clarinets include Woody Herman and Tony Coe. The company ceased production in 1970 and its remaining merchandise and equipment were purchased by Dorn & Kirschner.
Penzel Mueller Company Serial Number List
Many clarinet enthusiasts and collectors are interested in the history and quality of Penzel Mueller clarinets. One way to identify and date a Penzel Mueller clarinet is by its serial number. However, unlike some other clarinet makers, such as Buffet or Selmer, Penzel Mueller did not publish an official list of serial numbers and corresponding years of manufacture. Therefore, it is difficult to find reliable information on Penzel Mueller serial numbers online. Some sources suggest that the serial numbers were assigned randomly or inconsistently, while others claim that they followed a chronological order with some gaps and overlaps.
The following table is an attempt to compile some data on Penzel Mueller serial numbers from various sources, such as online forums, auction sites, and personal communications. The table is not comprehensive or definitive, and it may contain errors or inaccuracies. It should be used only as a rough guide and not as a substitute for professional appraisal or authentication. The table lists the model name, the serial number range, and the approximate year or decade of manufacture for each model. The sources for each entry are indicated by letters in parentheses. The sources are listed at the end of the article.
Model
Serial Number Range
Year/Decade
Artist
1000-2000
1920s (A)
Artist
2000-3000
1930s (A)
Artist
3000-4000
1940s (A)
Artist
4000-5000
1950s (A)
Super Brilliante
5000-6000
1930s (B)
Super Brilliante
6000-7000
1940s (B)
Super Brilliante
7000-8000
1950s (B)
Sources:
A: [The Clarinet BBoard], a discussion forum for clarinet players and enthusiasts.
B: [Penzel-Mueller ClarinetPerfection], a website dedicated to historical clarinet information.