 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jblackshear
Date: 2013-08-13 16:33
Attachment: image.jpg (246k)
A clarinet serial number 1r63. This dates from the 1920's and has the donut and wrap around register key in the upper element. Plays beautifully. How much should I insure it for?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-08-13 21:56
I recently bought one of these for $165 on auction but it needed an overhaul and, though unbranded, was obviously a Buffet from the 1910 - 1820 era. It plays beautifully also. Later, the seller came by my place and gave me about $2000 worth of woodwind repair shop tools from his late father, for free.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-08-14 01:56
It's an old (1920s or earlier) Buffet with a "doughnut key" pad for the forked Eb/Bb. From the wide spread between the holes for the right index and middle fingers, I think it's a clarinet in A.
To find the year of manufacture, look up the serial number at http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Buffet.html. It will be stamped very lightly on the back at the bottom of the upper and lower joints. Scrub the area with a damp toothbrush to get out any accumulation. (Buffet used to have an unreliable lookup page, but it's no longer on their site.)
Also, look on the front of the bell. You want to see "L.P." stamped on it, which means "low pitch," i.e., A-440. If it's stamped "H.P." it's at high pitch, which is more than a quarter step above 440. A high pitch clarinet is fine for playing alone, but useless for playing with a pianist or other players.
Old clarinet develop cracks, particularly at the top of the bell. If you want to play the instrument a lot, you should have a restoration done.
Depending on a serious test of its intonation, if it's L.P., it may be worth up to $1000 when restored to pristine condition. A H.P. clarinet has almost no value.
Ken Shaw
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Author: efsf081
Date: 2013-08-14 04:20
I also buy a buffet clarinet which the upper joint and barrel is one piece. The serial number seem is 215A. No any marking of L.P. or H.P. on the clarinet. I seem someone said the clarinet before 1900 didn't have L.P. or H.P. on it. Is it ture?
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