 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lalalea
Date: 2009-03-18 19:54
Hello Everyone,
I have an old Buffet Crampon clarinet that my grandfather gave me 15 years ago. I'm not sure how old it is or when it was made, but I would guess he bought it in the 1940's or earlier. There is a little serial number etched in (36582) and it says "made in France" on it. If anyone has any suggestions about how to figure out what model this is, I would really appreciate it.
Also, I need to replace the pads, but am not sure what size of pads will fit. Will pad sets sold for BC clarinets fit older BC's as well?
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2009-03-18 21:38
There is a serial number search on this site which will tell you year of manufacture. Buffet used to have it on their site as well but have not been to that one for a long time. The pad set should work.
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2009-03-19 02:18
When that number is searched on the Buffet website the info returned is:
Brand : Buffet Crampon
Instrument : BC1193-2
Serial number : 36582
Year of manufacturing : 06/06/2002
Correct me if I am wrong, but 'BC1193-2' denotes a bass clarinet.
In any case, the manufacturing date is way to recent. That rules out the Buffet web page as a source.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2009-03-19 02:45
This clarinet was made in 1951. It's top of the line professional model of that era.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
Post Edited (2009-03-19 02:51)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-03-19 13:22
lalaea -
The serial number/date list is at http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Buffet.html. Serial number 36582 dates to 1948, prior to the introduction of the R-13 in late 1954 or early 1955 at approximately serial number 48800. The R-13 model has a polycylindrical bore, replacing the straight cylindrical bore of the earlier model.
The key shapes and pad sizes were standardized with the introduction of the R-13. Prior to that, keys were made by hand and individually fitted to each instrument. If you intend to repad the instrument yourself, you should get a list of pad sizes and measure the old pad diameters with a caliper to make sure you get the correct assortment.
However, I advise having the initial overhaul done professionally. In particular, the rims of the tone holes may need to be leveled, and they may have small nicks that need to be filled. Also, over the years the wood grain around the rims may have opened slightly and need to be sealed.
As Vytas says, prior to the introduction of the R-13, Buffet clarinets had no model name, and they made only the single, professional quality instrument. (However, in the 1940s and early 1950s, Buffet's product list for the U.S. market called the standard 6 ring/17 key configuration the R-13, which has caused great confusion.)
Ryder - By BC," I think lalaea is referring to Buffet Crampon, not bass clarinet.
Ken Shaw
Post Edited (2009-03-19 23:19)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-03-20 13:23
JJ -
That's true, but lalaea mentioned only the serial number. It was Ryder who mentioned the bass 1193 model. For serial number 36582, and lalaea's date of the 1940s, I'm sure the clarinet is a soprano, and BC means Buffet Crampon.
Ken Shaw
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-03-21 14:23
You're right, Ken. I was referring more to Ryder's comment, which I thought you were responding to. A simple miscommunication on my part.
Jeff
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Author: lalalea
Date: 2009-03-26 02:06
Thank you all so much for your replies! Sorry for the confusion, "BC" referred to Buffet Crampon, I was just being a lazy typer. It is a soprano clarinet. I emailed Buffet Crampon and they told me that they checked their records and the serial number says it was made in 1951. I wonder if this is correct or not, since Ken Shaw says woodwind.org lists it as 1948.
Anyway, I guess the best thing to do is have someone who knows what they are doing take a look at it. I don't play the clarinet, so I'm pretty clueless. I just figured that since my father has a lot of experience fixing fountain pens he could probably repad it. However, now that I know how valuable it is I will definitely take it to be professionally repadded and fixed up.
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2009-03-26 04:05
I knew when lalalea used "BC" i knew it referred to Buffet Crampon. I searched the given serial number in Buffet's data base and recieved BC1193. I knew 1193 reffered to the modern Prestige bass clarinets, so I inferred BC to mean bass clarinet.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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