Klarinet Archive - Posting 000191.txt from 1995/06

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: R-13 Beginning date and Ser #
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 1995 20:17:11 -0400

In a reply to my recent poat on Buffet clarinets, Robert McChesney
wondered if his 60,000 Buffet is an R-13.

I looked at my notes on serial numbers and determined that this
instrument was made in 1959, well after the introduction of the R-13.

R-13's to do not have any distinguishing marks. My understanding is
that the R-13 was the brainchild of Robert Carree who was the head
acoustician at Buffet starting in about 1950. I believe that the R-13
was the first instance of incorporating a polycylindrical bore into the
overall acoustic design of a Buffet clarinet. In any case, it became
THE design for Buffet clarinets from that point forward. Many of the
books that contain information regarding serial numbers have been lost
and there is a gap from 1946 -1957. Buffet does know that about 3,000
"pieces" per year were made at that time. I did the interpolation once
before and I think 1950 would be approximately 43,000

So it is safe to say that a 61,000 serial number is an R-13. The tuning
problems that Mr. McChesney describes seems typical for that vintage.
It always puzzles me when someone says that they have a "FANTASTIC" old
Buffet when under scrutiny it displays not so minor tuning problems. I
suppose one has to make up his/her own mind on how much gymnastics are
appropriate under performance pressure.

Clark W Fobes