 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: amykob
Date: 1999-11-29 03:30
I have recently refurbished my old Buffett which I bought used in 1989. I would love more information on the instrument. I have a serial number. It's a Buffet R13 B. Does anyone know how and where I can get information about my instrument?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-11-29 11:42
Please check the Equipmnet/How Old Is section here on Sneezy to find the manufacture date on your clarinet.
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Author: amykob
Date: 1999-11-29 23:07
Thanks Mark Charlette,
One more question: The serial number is R13 B 660A. Does that mean 660440? According to the Sneezy chart A=440 or 442. That would mean my clarinet was made in 1961.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-11-30 00:07
Amy,
It doesn't make a lot of sense. 660A would put your clarinet at 1886; however, I don't think that even the American importer started labelling the clarinets as R13 until much later, but I could be wrong.
The A would be a suffix, not a frequency.
The polycylindrical R13 didn't start until the mid 50s.
Does your clarinet have a "wrap around" register key? That'd be a clue.
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Author: amykob
Date: 1999-11-30 00:55
Mark,
Thanks for your help. This novice Sherlock Holmes was using the wrong number. The number on the barrell is
R13 B 660A. I found another number on the clarinet (both sections with keys). 173114. This clarinet was made in 1976. Thanks again for your help. I would never have discovered my error.
Amy
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-11-30 21:21
Make sure you measure the length of the barrel like most of us ordinary folks would do, from outside edge to outside edge. For instance, I put my A 440 barrel on its end and measured its height to the very outside edge of the pretty silver ring. Voila! Exactly 66 mm! Ditto for my A 442 barrel at exactly 65 mm.
Almost all recent clarinets have a serial number marked exactly where you found yours. Look at the back of the outside of the upper and lower joint right where they both come together. Both numbers should match up.
That begs a question. Why did your barrel have such a different designation? Simple. The upper and lower joints are made to always be together. The factory techs tune and tweak these two pieces a lot to make them work as one piece. The barrel and bell are made separately and placed in the case later. Your barrel was designated a Bb A 440 unit, mainly to separate it from the Bb A 442 units.
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