Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-08-16 19:57
According to Francois Kloc, Buffet adopted the model designation "No1" or "N01" (he uses both forms in the same message) around 1950 when they began introducing clarinets with a polycylindrical bore. In 1955, when they had settled on a "final" design (more or less, they've been tweaking ever since) Buffet adopted the model name R13. From the serial number list, it appears that the factory continued the N�1 designation for their records. In other words, N�1 Sib (Bb) was the record-keeping code designation and R13 was the model name just as BC1131-2-0 is the code designation for a modern silver plated R13 Bb, pitched at (I'm inferring from the code but I could be wrong about this block) 440.
Just as the instrument has evolved over the years, so has the code, possibly changing when ownership changed hands and the new owners introduced their own codes, or when new characteristics had to be incorporated and, almost certainly, to facilitate computerized vs. manual record-keeping.
From what I see at the Buffet website, I think the current code structure for clarinets breaks down something like this: BCaabb(c)-d-e, where:
aa specifies the key - Bb(11), A(12), Eb(15), (F)17 (I can't find model numbers for a C or D clarinets on their site) [in the old code it was Sib, La and Mib, respectively for the first three keys I listed]
bb specifies the particular model, E13(02), RC(12), "Basset" (not really a model but that's how it's used)(23), R13(31), Prestige RC Bass to low Eb (83), Prestige RC Bass to low C(93), etc.
c is optional and specifies Greenline (G) or optional left-hand Eb lever (L), otherwise it is omitted
d specifies the key-plating (02 = silver, 05 = nickle)
e specifes pitch (0 = 440, 2 = 442, 4 = 444) [Note: I could be completely wrong about this one. The only examples I can find are "0" for R13s pitched at 440. On the Buffet site, anyway,this part of the code is not given for any of the models that have different or alternative pitches. Possibly the "0" is used only for models specifically pitched at 440 or possibly the "0" refers to something else, entirely.)
Best regards,
jnk
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The Clarinet BBoard
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