 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: trice035
Date: 2011-05-13 21:52
Every serial number list for Leblanc clarinets I have seen begins with 1964. Yes, it was a wonderful year...
Does anyone know of a list for earlier Leblancs? Thx.
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Author: trice035
Date: 2012-05-21 05:22
Well, I just picked up a Leblanc from the 50s. Serial # is 8xx. The horn appears to be from the 50s. So I once again find myself searching for a serial number list that covers years prior to 1964, which is where they seem to start.
Any thoughts? Anyone?
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-05-21 13:54
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clsnLeblanc.htm is the source of all Leblanc wisdom. Its serial number lists begin at 1964, but there are many old catalogs and pictures of earlier models, useful for identification.
When I got a BBb paperclip contra, I wanted to date it, only to find that Leblanc seemed to go out of its way to avoid making its serial number lists public. I was advised to call Dave Suber at Leblanc in Kenosha, who had the older lists and could check individual numbers. He was very knowledgeable, but I'm sure he's long gone. The Kenosha phone number, 262/658-1644, appears to be current, so you might try that.
Ken Shaw
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-05-21 14:03
Ken Shaw wrote:
> The Kenosha phone number, 262/658-1644,
> appears to be current, so you might try that.
>
Didn't the Kenosha plant get shut down in 2010?
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-05-21 18:06
For what its worth I bought my pair of Leblancs in Jan 1961 and I know they had been recently delivered to Lewingtons in London (Leblanc UK agent at the time) so they would have been made in later part of 1960.
The ser nos of both Bb and A start 141xx.
So you can do some sort of extrapolation between 1/61 and 1/64 at least.
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Author: trice035
Date: 2012-05-23 05:08
Thanks for the suggests. I have spent quite a bit of time on clarinetperfection.com. Some very useful information...
The horn I have has no model name, uses "Emblem #1", has solid nickel silver keys, has a serial # in the 800's with no A at the end, has separate throat A/Ab posts, and has separate D# posts. Appears to be very early 50's.
Post Edited (2012-05-23 05:08)
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2012-05-23 15:54
Back when the Kenosha plant was up and running normally when you called you got their call center and they would check sn# that were on the computers, which was about 1980s and up.
I called earlier than the call center opening (probably back in 2001 or so) and got a very nice lady on the phone that went hunting for a paper serial number list that she knew existed.
I really had no hope of ever getting it but low and behold a few days later the Leblanc, Noblet and Normandy lists appeared on the fax machine.
If there was an earlier list then it probably went with Mr. Suber.
Unfortunately, I've long forgotten the name of that lady but thanks to her I put it on my website for all to have.
But any Leblanc with the post war emblems you can just calculate back/guestimate to figure out the year.
If you happen to speak french, then I recommend an exploratory vacation to france to find someone over there that might know. You can pay my way too and I'll help 
==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information
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Author: Bill
Date: 2012-05-23 23:13
I love everything about vintage Leblanc clarinets except the sound!
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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