 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: singinbec
Date: 2013-01-10 06:18
Post Edited (2013-01-10 06:51)
I found a very unique one piece body wooden Buffet clarinet at a flea market for $14. It is in rough shape but so unique and beautiful. I know it will need a full over haul and I am wondering what that would cost and if this clarinet is worth it.
About the clarinet. I have not been able to find one like it on line or much information about it. Here is what I think I know.
It has a one piece body with barrel and bell. All 3 pieces have the same Buffet imprint. It is 2 inches longer than my B flat clarinet and has an extra key below the low E which I assume is the extended E flat. The open G is pitched to A on my piano. So I believe it is a C clarinet. It has the wrap around tea pot register key.
It will only play an open G. The keys are so corroded and don't work. The springs need replacing as do all the pads. It will only play open G but has a beautiful tone.
The keys buff out quite well and will a lot of polishing they can be made beautiful again. It does not seem to be plated as I buffed very hard and only found pitting metal on keys, no wearing away of silver. It might be German silver. The corrosion on the metal does not look like gray tarnish, it is greenish. Does anyone know what Buffet would have made the keys from in 1912? And what kind of wood it most likely is?
From what I can tell this is a very rare instrument. The wood is beautiful and the only crack is in the bell. The rest is very solid. It is missing the back thumb rest. The mouth piece is not wood. But the ligature is the same metal and shows the same age. The mouth piece does not have any markings on it at all.
The serial number starts clearly starts with 1 H and is followed by 3 more numbers that appear to be 379, but are very difficult to read. 1H 379 would date it 1912.
All 3 pieces have the imprinted into the wood BC logo that says
Buffet Crampon and Cie A Paris BC.
Under the logo on the barrel and the body is just says Made in France LP.
But under the logo on the bell it also says
C. Fisher New York before the Made in France LP
That is all I know about this clarinet. I am a pianist and only play clarinet occasionally since college. I am curious of the value of this clarinet. I am wondering if it is worth repairing and playing or should I just keep it on my studio wall as a great piece of history. Any opinions and information welcome.
Post Edited (2013-01-10 06:52)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-10 07:25
Attachment: selmerctfullboehm.jpg (330k)
The open G sounds Concert A and it's two inches longer than your Bb clarinet?
I can only think you're getting a false reading here - if the only note that sounds is a Concert A, then I assume the trill key pads are missing as only on a D clarinet will an open G sound Concert A and they're a lot shorter than a Bb clarinet even if built to low Eb.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/download.html?1,3073/01.JPG
It's most likely a Bb clarinet with articulated C#/G#, LH Ab/Eb lever and low Eb - if it had the 7th ring for LH finger 3 (forked Eb/Bb mechanism) then it would be a full Boehm.
Compare it to my Selmer full Boehm which has the extra keywork (see attached photo).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-01-10 07:30)
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Author: singinbec
Date: 2013-01-10 20:29
Thanks Chris. You are right. So many pads are missing so open g is not at correct pitch. Thanks for looking at my pictures. It is an extended Bb. Do you know if it is worth restoring? Is it rare or of value? Thanks for your help.
Post Edited (2013-02-11 08:06)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-10 20:48
The large crack will need to be pinned or banded (carbon fibre banding can be hidden with filler) as well as being glued to stabilise it (low viscosity superglue will wick into the crack to seal it), but if it plays well and you enjoy playing it, then it's worth restoring for that reason.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-01-11 07:17)
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-01-10 21:49
singinbec wrote:
> Thanks Chris. You are right. So many pads are missing so open g
> is not at correct pitch. Thanks for looking at my pictures. It
> is an extended Bb. Do you know if it is worth restoring? Is it
> rare or of value? Thanks for your help.
Tough to say whether it is worth restoring. It will be a gamble for sure. Realistically you will probably have to spend ~$500 to get it properly restored (new pads, new cork, clean the wood, fix cracks, clean and polish keys, etc.).
Since it isn't in playing shape now you won't know if it is a decent player or not until after paying to have the work done. It may turn out to be a fantastic player in which case it may be worth a couple of hundred dollars more than you will have spent on the overhaul. On the other hand it could just as easily turn out to be a lousy player and be worth a couple of hundred dollars less than you will have just spent on the overhaul.
Keep in mind that there is not a huge amount of demand for older, pre-R13, Buffet clarinets. This is a fairly rare model and there is some interest in the uni-body Buffet clarinets but I would still place the high water mark for retail price on this clarinet at around $1000 in freshly restored condition (only if it is a good player and only if it comes with a case in decent condition).
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-01-10 22:19
Yes, I bought a pair of Buffet one piece full Boehm clarinets to low Eb a long time ago and played them for many years, no cracks. They don't have the donut key or the Eb/Bb fork fingering with 7 rings. The Bb I have was made in 1912, is in excellent condition, and plays great. The body was thinner in those days so it is lighter than a modern equivalent clarinet but the sound is fine. The prior player, Mr. Tarentino) was a member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and was probably a fine performer. I would play them any time but I like the sound and compactness of my Buffet R13 Prestige that I now use.
Value of these instruments is not clear but I might expect to sell them for $600 to $1000 each. Unrestored, one could possibly get $100 to $200. Good luck!
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