Klarinet Archive - Posting 000888.txt from 1995/10

From: Armand Ferland <Armand.Ferland@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: David and Buffet Clarinet 737Z
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 1995 16:11:30 -0400

>Dear David,
>I also have one pitched in A, serial no. 747C1.
>The serial number 737Z would be consistent with a Buffet-Crampon
>clarinet made in 1907 but the O series was earlier in around 1900-900.
>Bob Chesebro's instrument with the number 747C1 was probably made
>around 1909. I take these dates, and my understanding of Buffets
>strange way of numbering things, with a grain of salt.
>
>The W. H. stands for William H. Cundy who died in 1914. I would guess
>that the W. H. Cundy was used for about 7 to 9 years. Starting not
>later than 1907 when Harry Bettoney (who worked for William H. Cundy
>around the turn of the century) bought out Cundy in 1907. It would
>seem these clarinets you detail are examples of instruments they
>imported, perhaps in 1907 or shortly thereafter from Buffet.
>
>Like Carl Fischer, they were primarily a music publisher but started to
>import quantites of woodwinds. Prior to 1907, when William Cundy owned
>the company, it was Cundy Music Publishing Co. and I believe he too was
>importing instruments. They probably continued to mark instuments for
>several months with the W. H. but in 1916 they had patented the name
>Cundy-Bettoney and I would expect a different mark was used for the
>occasion. Cundy-Bettoney Co. is reputed to have made more woodwinds
>than any other company in the first half of this century (in U.S.).
>In their best years they cranked out over 40,000 instruments a year.
>
>The important point is not really who imported them but who made them.
>I expect Buffet-Crampon was making an average of 2000 to 3000 clarinets
>each year around the early 1900's. The marks Brevete are well known on
>Buffet woodwinds but the U.G.D.G is curious. I think it is really
>S.G.D.G. as this mark is common though I can't think what it could
>stand for. I believe it could be puzzled out. Anyone have a guess?
>My French is rusty and I was never good at it.
>
>A quelle heure est-ce que vous vous couchez. I'm trying to remember
>how to say it's my bedtime. Avoir.
>
>Scott Hirsch, Editor fax =3D 1-509-935-6835
>The Woodwind Quarterly e-mail: WQ@-----.com
>1513 Old CC Rd. phone 800-450-1148
>Colville, WA 99114

Dear Scott,

BREVETE, or rather BREVET=C9 if your set-up reads accents and other diacriti=
c
symbols, simply means PATENTED.

Au revoir!

Armand Ferland
1196, rue Eug=E8ne-Hamel
Sainte-Foy (Qu=E9bec)
Canada G1W 4G4