 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-02-08 15:01
My (then new) R13 came in a nice case with a medalion on it celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Buffet Crampon Company - 1825-1975.
Was there anything extra-special about the clarinet inside the box? The Serial number (153089) doesn't suggest anything.
Just advertizing hype?
JDS
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-02-08 17:38
To the best of my knowledge:
Think Buck knives in a Presentation case.
Craftsman tools did the same thing...nice wood box....same socket wrench (their top of the line USA manufactured model, which has always been ok)
OR DElta band saw aniv. edition... new logo, white paint instead of gray, free rip fence, otherwise the same.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Fred
Date: 2005-02-08 19:03
I believe there were some Anniversary models that had that designation on the clarinet. Nothing different that I am aware of - just the designation. They apparently had more cases than instruments, however, because there are many examples of R13's (undesignated as Anniversary models) in Anniversary cases.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-02-08 19:51
The R-13 Buffet Anniversary Model was in 1975 and it was marked on the body of the clarinet.
Just below the logo on the upper joint (only) it read Modele du 150th Anniversaire.
The case also had a similar designation.
I have one of the Anniversary Model Buffets (154xxx). It produces a very nice sound, has good intonation and appears to be made of excellent wood. I also have an R-13 (162xxx) which was similarly made in 1975 but which does not have the Anniversary designation. It is one of my favorite Buffets in my collection.
FWIW - Clark Fobes considers the run of Buffets made in 1975 (153324 - 163567) to be quite desirable instruments ...GBK
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-02-09 12:29
These are also amongst the few I have seen with severe cracking problems.
Isn't this the period when Buffet was about to be purchased by Boosey?
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Author: remo
Date: 2009-09-26 04:09
i've got a buffet that is marked on the body of the instrument "modele de 150 anniversaire". the case is marked 1825-1975. it is a gorgeous instrument with no cracking problems. serial number is 156889. does anyone know how many were produced with the 150 anniversary marking?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-09-26 04:30
Buffet made about 10,000 R13 clarinets in the year 1975. The serial numbers in 1975 were from 153324 to 163567.
It seems that only the earlier serial numbers from 1975 were marked Modele du 150th Anniversaire. I do not know the exact number of clarinets designated that way.
I have two R13's from 1975. My 154xxx is marked with the "150 Anniversaire" designation, but my 162xxx is not, and (as I recall) came in a standard issue R13 case.
I bought my 162xxx new in 1975. The 154xxx was purchased from a colleague who sold it to me when he decided to upgrade(?) to a Prestige.
...GBK
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Author: remo
Date: 2009-09-26 04:40
based on your serial number and mine, we know there were at least somewhere around 2000 made with the designation. what is your exact serial number so we can be more precise in the estimate? do you think buffet would know the actual number made, and provide that information if i contact them?
i wonder if the serial numbers 150000 to 160000 had the designation?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-09-26 05:05
remo wrote:
> do you think buffet would know the actual number
> made, and provide that information if i contact them?
Highly doubtful.
Quite honestly, why does it really matter how many were made?
Clarinets, unlike violins, do not appreciate in value over the years and having the Modele du 150th Anniversaire on the instrument is a quaint curiosity but means nothing to me.
Both of my clarinets from 1975 play exceptionally well. The wood is tightly grained, the intonation is quite good, and the sound produced is rich in color.
That's really all that matters.
...GBK
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2009-09-26 16:39
GBK asks whether buffet would know the actual number made and provide the information if requested. Since they can tell you by date (month, day and year, at least for one I had made in 1985) when your clarinet was made (there's an interactive portion of their website), I'm sure they (or you, by making up your own numbers) can determine how many were made in a particular year.
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Author: genekeyes ★2017
Date: 2009-09-26 16:58
My understanding is that Buffet serial numbers are assigned in the earliest stages of production. There were clarinets that were started and for one reason or another production was interrupted and not resumed, in some cases for several years. The serial number is a fairly good guide to production dates but is not gospel..........what does it matter anyway? What counts is how the instrument plays now.
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Author: remo
Date: 2009-09-26 19:22
thank you for the tip to search buffet's interactive web page! here's what i have found:
10,576 clarinets were produced by buffet in 1975, the first on 1/3/75 (serial #152992) the last on 12/31/75 (serial #163567). of these, only 925 were 150th anniversary models. these were produced in batches of from 49 units to 311 units. here's the breakdown:
311 units produced on 2/12/75 (ser. #s 154509-154820). these were labeled: as N1 Amerique 150 Anniversaire
206 units produced on 4/3/75 (ser. #s 154953-155159). these were labeled: R13 Amerique 150 Anniversaire
207 units produced on 4/18-22/75 (ser. #s 156482-156689). these were labeled: 150me Anniversaire
49 units produced on 5/5/95 (ser. #s 156869-156918). these were labeled: 150ms Anniversaire
103 units produced on 6/3/75 (ser. #s 157495-157598). these were labeled 150me Anniversair
49 units produced on 9/18/75 (ser. #s 160060-160109). these were labeled: N1 La 150me Anniversaire
Does anyone know if there is a physical difference between the units labeled:
N1 La 150me Anniversaire
N1 Amerique 150 Anniversaire
R13 Amerique 150 Anniversaire and
150me Anniversaire ?
thank you!
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Author: soybean
Date: 2009-11-20 07:06
I have a R13 in key of 'A', serial number 154xxx. It does not say Anniversary or Amerique on it, but A clarinets are often different than Bb models in ornamentation. This one has great wood and no cracks. The intonation is very good although the factory barrel plays ridiculously flat. I'm wondering if perhaps it originally came with two barrels and the normal (shorter) one got lost.
~Dan
(Leblanc Bliss, Buffet R13 key of A, Yamaha 250 Bb)
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2009-11-21 23:43
"They apparently had more cases than instruments, however, because there are many examples of R13's (undesignated as Anniversary models) in Anniversary cases."
My clarinet, serial number 193753, seems to fall into this category. My case has the silver 150 anniversary sticker on it. In fact, I've never liked my original case. It is an attache case that slopes on the front and the back toward the handle. I've never seen another Buffet player with a case like mine.
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Author: shallow-mo
Date: 2010-09-24 16:13
206 units produced on 4/3/75 (ser. #s 154953-155159). these were labeled: R13 Amerique 150 Anniversaire
Well then theres reason to doubt the veracity of the information on the Buffet Website! I recently acquired serial number 155005 and it is marked:
Modele du 150e Anniversaire
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-09-24 16:39
Remo's post does not indicate what was actually marked on the clarinets. It indicates the designations s/he found in the Buffet serial number list (which are factory designations). "R13 Amerique 150 Anniversaire" identifies a 150th Anniversary model R13 made for the American market (A = 440). The marking on your instrument is what you should expect, given the entry in the Buffet list.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: shallow-mo
Date: 2010-09-25 13:17
Jack Kissinger wrote:
> Remo's post does not indicate what was actually marked on the
> clarinets. It indicates the designations s/he found in the
> Buffet serial number list (which are factory designations).
> "R13 Amerique 150 Anniversaire" identifies a 150th Anniversary
> model R13 made for the American market (A = 440). The marking
> on your instrument is what you should expect, given the entry
> in the Buffet list.
>
> Best regards,
> jnk
Hmmmm. He used the term "labeled". How SHOULD I read that for meaning?
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