Klarinet Archive - Posting 000862.txt from 1997/08

From: the Grouch <d-grouch@-----.net>
Subj: Re: what kind of clarinet is it??? (fwd)
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 1997 14:26:24 -0400

-- [ From: the Grouch * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

The reply Dr. Borchert received from Carl Vail, Boosey & Hawkes/Buffet
Crampon representative, was quite interesting, but I wonder if it really
answered the original question. By coincidence, I examined a clarinet 16
Aug that appeared to be exactly as the one questioned on this list.

It was a plastic clarinet in a Buffet Crampon case. The markings on the
mouthpiece were worn, but "Buffet" in the oval could be made out even though
nothing else could be read. The upper and lower joints were stamped with a
serial number and the words "Made in West Germany". I don't recall whether
the "Made in" message appeared on the barrel or the bell, but there was
absolutely no other marking anywhere on the instrument. I asked the owner
what kind of horn it was and was told it was a Buffet, that it was exactly
as purchased, case, mouthpiece and all.

Mr. Vail's response, in part follows:

> the instruments in the "E" series include the E-13, a French instrument,
> and a descendant of the former "Evette & Shaeffer" clarinet, a
> fine French instrument. This instrument is an extremely close relative
> to the current R-13
>
> The E-12 is also a likely candidate, being an up-scale horn from the
> basic grenadilla instrument.
>
> The E-11 is our basic grenadilla clarinet. It is made at the Schreiber
> plant in West Germany, and is a mass-production model of the more
> hands-on instruments from France.
>
> Our B-12, which is a synthetic version of the E-11, is an unlikely
> candidate, although as you know, it does look like wood.

Mr. Vail may be correct that the B-12 is an unlikely candidate, as the horn
I looked at did not look like wood. It was bright, shiny black plastic.

> if it isn't inscribed with a model number, it is probably an R-13, with
> the following time exception.
>

--
Wm Laubengayer TANSTAAFL and TANJ

   
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