 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kal
Date: 2004-07-08 09:05
...of my D. Noblet clarinet.
I know that I am not the first person to ask for help with this. I also know that there are no records of serial numbers and that any determination of age is no more than an educated guess. I have searched the forums and gleaned what knowledge I could from them; I do not seek to be redundant. All that being said, if anyone can help me, I'd really appreciate it : )
Here we go:
- Wooden (many threads I found dealt with metal clarinets).
- Serial number 1xxxC.
- Markings: Oval logo reading "Noblet Paris" (not the one with the flattened sides, a true oval) flanked by a lyre with the letter D above and the DN monogram below. Appears on all four sections. Also, "Made in France" on top joint above the register key.
- Keys do not appear to be plated, although key mounts most definitely are (which I find odd). Offset trill keys. Conical pad cups.
- Tenon on bottom joint which fits into bell has a metal ring below the cork. All other tenons comprised only of wood.
- I do not have the original case to help determine age.
Love to hear from anyone who can help!
-kal
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-07-08 17:28
I'm not an expert on the age of Noblet Clarinets, thus can't really say much about the age of this piece. But I would think it is at least 45 years old, maybe many years older.
You commented, "Keys do not appear to be plated, although key mounts most definitely are (which I find odd)."
This may be because the keys are forged nickel silver/German silver, while posts are made from brass rod. Leblanc used unplated nickel silver keys at least as late as the 1950s; but turning, boring, and threading brass rod is a much easier manufacturing technique for posts. Plating of those would then be in order. Some much older instruments used unplated brass, but I believe that went out of fashion years before your instrument was made.
Good luck on finding more information.
Regards,
John
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Author: sbbishop
Date: 2004-07-08 19:33
I have a similar Noblet with the serial # of 5XXXF. I took several digital pictures and emailed them to Leblanc, asking if they could help determine the age of the clarinet.
After about a 3 week wait, I got a very nice reply. It seems that their records do not go back that far, so the Serial # was of no help. But they passed the pictures around to their workers and the consensous was that the clarinet was probably made in the mid to late 50's, and it was a model 40 or 45 which they were making even then.
Hope this info. helps.
Stephen Bishop
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