 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kesian
Date: 2015-01-23 23:49
Hello. I'm trying to gather some information from the Buffet knowledgeable crowd regarding a very old "Buffet Crampon & Cie, A Paris" clarinet. Serial number is in the XXXD range which is far older than my Buffet knowledge extends at the moment. I have no idea what the D suffix means but know by the numbers when it was made.
I am more concerned with the likelihood it is an HP as I'm not sure when Buffet began their transition to LP. It has a basic Boehm key system but the photo I saw of it immediately struck me as being shorter than normal. As in possibly not a b-flat clarinet to start with. I'm not sure if the serial could be any indication. I'm in process of asking the owner for a length measurement without the mouth piece.
Anyway, I stand by for any info or cautions regarding this particular series. The owner made me an offer but I'd like to know what I am actually getting before I agree to the price. Thanks
KC
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-01-24 02:39
See the chart at http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Buffet.html.
1D - 348D were made in 1889.
349D - 999D were made in 1890.
A high-pitch instrument will almost certainly have H.P. stamped on the bell.
You can tell a C clarinet because the barrel is much shorter than on a Bb.
My 1929 Buffet C is 20-5/16" long from the top of the barrel to the bottom of the bell. The barrel is 1-15/16". A high-pitch C will be at least 1/2" shorter.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Kesian
Date: 2015-01-24 18:55
Right. I knew when it was made because I'd already been in the charts before I posted here.
Thx for the info it's a C clarinet. I only have photos to go by and the instrument is dwarfed by the 1930's b-flat case it is sitting in. It seemed too extreme for an HP/LP difference but it could be the case too. I don't plan to purchase if they don't get back to me with the measurement I requested.
The owner says there is no HP mark but I didn't expect one until after 1900. Were they stamping HP/LP that early?
Thanks for the inputs and the C measurement info. I can come back and reference it if the owner responds to my email. Much appreciated.
KC
Post Edited (2015-01-24 18:57)
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Author: Kesian
Date: 2015-01-27 00:51
Unfortunately the measurement came out to be 19 1/2 inches. <sad face>
Thanks again.
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