 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: cmanchester
Date: 2014-03-11 22:52
I have a friend that just purchased an older Buffet. The interesting thing is that it actually has two matching serial numbers on each joint. They are stacked right on top of each other. The lower bottom serial number has an F in front indicating it was made for the European market I believe. It also has a BC in the logo on the top joint.
Anyone with info on how to interpret the dual serial numbers?
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Author: donald
Date: 2014-03-12 13:23
It's not quite clear what you want to know- you describe the serial numbers as "matching" suggesting they are the same. This is normal, it's a serial number on a Buffet clarinet. You are correct where the "F" is concerned.
Now, if there were two different serial numbers, THAT would be a mystery!
dn
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-03-12 13:37
I had this confusion from someone the other day when an RC came into me for crack repair. The owner thought it had mismatching joints, but after looking at the various numbers their concerns were soon put to rest as it all makes perfect sense.
The body joints both carry the actual serial number of the instrument (in this case it's F44xxxx).
The barrel has "RC B 650" stamped on the back signifying it's a barrel for an RC Bb clarinet measuring 65.0mm in length.
The bell has "RC B" stamped on the back signifying it's the bell destined for an RC Bb clarinet.
But the numbers aren't stacked one above the other - each section has its own number or identifying marks in a single line.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2014-03-12 13:41)
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Author: cmanchester
Date: 2014-03-12 19:38
Oh sorry I wasn't clear, the numbers are stacked directly on top of each other, so two serial numbers stacked on each joint, but with each joint matching the other, so on the top joint there are two serial numbers that are stacked with the top being 17xxx (5 digits) and directly underneath it F9XXXX (5 digits plus the F) The bottom joint also shows the matching two serial numbers, again stacked on top of each other.
That is the source of my confusion as I have only ever seen one serial number on each joint (matching of course)
There is also a BC under the logo on the top joint-that is more normal I believe
One thing did occur to me, that the top number 17xxx may have been put on later by a school or such to mark their inventory, but looking at the two sets of serial numbers they appear similar in form, so look more like they were put on together.
Thanks for any help
Best,
-Carol
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2014-03-12 21:00
Can you post a picture?
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2014-03-13 21:26
Are you sure it's a Buffet? Pictures would help.
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: donald
Date: 2014-03-14 07:29
Um, the clarinet may have been previously the property of a school/band/armed forces etc that put their own ID number on it, in addition to the Buffet serial number. Just an idea.
dn
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Author: cmanchester
Date: 2014-03-15 20:26
Attachment: 1967 R13 serial number lower joint II.jpg (1689k)
Attachment: 1967 R13 with extra.jpg (1604k)
Attachment: 1967 R13 barrel.jpg (1632k)
Sorry for not posting pictures earlier-a little technically challenged at that apparently.
Yes definitely a buffet. Has the classic buffet logo on both joints as well as the barrel. The only marking along with the logo is an RC below the logo on the top joint. Sorry-don't have any pictures of the logos Assuming the lower serial number F98XXX is the only one applied at the factory then would be dated 1967 I believe and thus an R13 made for the European market.
Pictures attached of the serial number and also there is a little extra key work on the top joint-picture also attached. Any info on the extra keywork much appreciated
I agree with the theory that the second (top) number was placed on the instrument after by a school or the like as a marker for their inventory. Have you all seen this before. If you notice in the picture the 1's are very slightly different between the two numbers.
Post Edited (2014-03-15 16:29)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-03-16 03:31
The extra keywork is for the "forked Eb/Bb" which gives a perfectly in-tune (on my Leblancs anyway) Eb in the lower register and Bb in upper using fingering XoX ooo
The number above the serial is also quite uneven so appears to have been stamped by hand one digit at a time.
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