 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Canane
Date: 2013-07-17 01:08
I bought this clarinet at a garage sale and was researching it when I found your BBoard. I need help figuring out its true value. The serial number c 4583 when I search on Buffet-crampon website does not reveal any information. Could you please direct me to where I can find some information. Like are the keys silver or nickel from that year. How do I know if it has been bored out. Is it an r13 or what, etc., etc. Thanks so much!!
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-07-17 21:25
Yes, I also have a Buffet clarinet from 1889. Mine is a simple system HP instrument, however, valuable only to a collector. It is in excellent condition and has has a very wonderful sound.
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2013-07-19 18:49
I believe that an 1889 would have only 3 numbers after the C. Even if it was, it wouldn't be worth a fortune but would be interesting to somebody. It wouldn't be an R-13 and it would likely have solid "nickel silver" keys and could be Boehm or Albert/Simple system. It would easily be high pitch.
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Author: William
Date: 2013-07-22 14:53
It clearly appears to be a Boehm system clarinet like most of us play today. From its serial #, I would guess it is definitely pre-R13, probably from the 1930's or 40's. One of the best clarinets I ever played was a Buffet with a serial number like 12XXX--great sound, even scale and well in tune for a clarinet. Probably nickel keys. It's value would differ depending on the buyer and how much they like it, but I would expect more than $500 if it is in good playing condition.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-07-22 15:15
You seem to have an early pre-R13 instrument of some sort. It has the single post for the A and Ab keys, on the R13 these do not share a post. Most Pre-R13's used a stamped trill guide, but this was not universal and yours looks to be the the cylindrical type. The C prefix puzzles me, although I have read of Buffets from the '20's with a B prefix. If you ignore the prefix the instrument was made around 1929. Unfortunately your pics are poor and the details of the logo can't be distinguished. This is just my observations, and I always reserve for myself the right to be wrong. There's no reason why this couldn't be a decent player as long as nobody has messed around with it.
Tony F.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-07-22 16:02
Canane -
Serial number 4583 dates from 1929 http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Buffet.html. As far as I know, there is no Buffet serial number C4538
The only trademark your photos show is on the bell. If there is no mark on the upper and lower joints and the barrel, you have only a Buffet bell.
Also the key shapes are different from my various early Buffets. In particular, the prong for the pad cup above the three-hand rings is bent sharply upward. My Buffets from this period don't have that. I believe the bent pong is characteristic of clarinets made by Malerne and sold under many brand names.
Second, the guide for the top two trill keys on the upper joint is too short and not pointed at the top, as would be the case on a genuine Buffet.
Older Buffet serial numbers were lightly stamped with small numbers at the very bottom of the upper and lower joints. Yours is heavily stamped near the top of the lower joint.
If the only trademark is on the bell, the value of the instrument is negligible -- $100 or less.
Sorry about that.
Ken Shaw
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