Klarinet Archive - Posting 000616.txt from 1996/08

From: "Fogle, Bill" <bill.fogle@-----.COM>
Subj: Noblet
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 1996 03:23:15 -0400

Does anyone know about the manufacturing history of Noblet
clarinets? My information about them is sketchy: evidently a "Noblet"
family did manufacture them independantly, but at some point
became a part of the Leblanc Corporation.

I've seen four in my life: one Bb I own, purchased
for $150, and a fairly good playing instrument. I saw a second
in the "Tanglewood" instrument shop (currently located in
the owner's large basement) of Bethesda, Maryland, in the
company of many, many boxwood and rosewood clarinets (are
you reading this, Nick? It's a museum). It was rather old, with a
characteristic logo which I believe preceeded the one on mine,
very scripted and understated in comparison to the later, boxed
and blunt logo. The third was a Bb in a second-hand shop which I
regret I did not purchase. It had the older logo, and appeared (for
those who care about such things) like a solid and well-made
instrument. The last I saw offered "new" in an instrument
shop for $550.

The keys and tone hole placement are indeed very similar to
a Leblanc L7 (anyone want to buy it?) I have. But the Noblet plays
subjectively "better" with a deeper quality in the low tones and a
more generous high range. They possibly date from the same
era. Is there any Noblet lore? Has the Noblet always been considered
an "intermediate" instrument? ----Bill Fogle.