 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DH818
Date: 2005-01-07 12:39
I've been restoring clarinets bought from ebay for a couple of years now and have a question for someone more experienced. I called Leblanc yesterday to try to date an alto Leblanc I've been working on, and while I had them decided to ask them about a couple of Noblet Normandys I've recently restored. I've read several references in this forum to the Normandy line being about 30 years old, but Leblanc's very nice to speak with customer service rep. after a good bit of research told me her best guess was both of my Normandys were made in the 1940's. She based that guess on a thorough description of both clarinets and the fact that her records didn't go back beyond 1960. What I'd like to know is if any of you guys have run into this before, and if so, was the Noblet Normandy always a student/ low intermediate quality wood clarinet. The keywork of both clarinets impressed me, but I did notice some uneven wood grain.
Donald C Hinson
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-01-07 13:28
Hi Don - I'd say thats a good guess, however Normandys were marketed up into at least the '70's, I have several old brochures of that time period, and the only Norm I have is their plateau system horn, which may be as late as the '50's [my guess re: keys/condition.] My only Noblet is the Stubbins [added pad] version, which is prob '50-60 considering that his patent is mid-50's, and his PB book's [a good one!] earliest copyright date is 1965, my 3rd ed. is 1974, in which he describes his approach to this invention. Leblanc [et al] has been very active in the Us since in the 30's, Leon has/had a number of early patents, the jump keys in the 30's [have copy, can find it??]. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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