The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2017-01-25 23:44
According to Leblanc's "official" list of serial number ranges per production year, the Normandy clarinets were numbered with the prefix B when they passed the 100.000 mark, in 1983.
Normandy Wood Clarinets
Model #8,10,4
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1982 97761 98257
1983 98258 B26150
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Leblanc.html
Having seen this list, what I thought happened was that the Normandy clarinets were included in the same series number counter as all the Leblanc France student clarinets.
Noblet 40, 45, and 27
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1983 B25891 B28146
1984 B28147 B45800
The problem: I have *never* seen a Normandy clarinet with a leading B. They either have a serial with only digits or one that starts with an A.
A more plausible theory: When they passed serial 100.000 they got the prefix A and continued their own number series.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2017-01-26 22:30
Moreover, I have seen several new-old-stock Normandys with a leading A in the serial number. They were probably built in the 90s before Leblanc created the "Noblet 4" model.
The black swan would be a Normandy with a B serial number prefix. Has anyone seen it?
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2017-01-27 23:22
I maintained a registry of Normandy serial numbers for a few years; there are no B-prefixed instruments on the list.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2017-01-31 12:56
Thanks, Ursa, for the information. I'd be happy to exchange data with you. Click on my profile for my e-mail address.
Let's see if someone finds this thread and can provide evidence of the black swan.
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