 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Snake Eater
Date: 2019-03-07 22:02
Could anyone help me identify the year, make, or model of these old clarinets? I acquired them recently from someone whose older family members played on them. I think the Buffet might be from around the 1940s or earlier? I cannot find a serial number anywhere or any other indications than the Buffet logos. The other clarinet I think is a Selmer and it has a one piece top joint + barrel but I don't know anything else about it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TrueTone
Date: 2019-03-08 04:54
Your Buffet is from the 1920s or earlier, as that's about when they stopped using wrap around register keys. The serial might be rather worn, and need help to be seen-my 1918 Buffet Eb has one digit in the serial I can't really read.
However, your other clarinet is probably a bit older, judging by the one piece barrel and upper joint. I don't know who manufactured that one, but it looks rather unlike my mid 1920s Selmer A in its keywork. (I also think that yours is in A, since its upper joint fits perfectly into the spot for an A in its case) The alto saxophone mouthpiece in that double case might be a 20s or 30s Selmer, though, it looks like one, and has writing on the table.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2019-03-08 13:10
My wife has a few (12) "integral barrel" clarinets in her (large collection), and her's are mostly Buffets from the 1890s. I don't know if your one is a Buffet, but the ones she has play very nicely (and in one case has intonation as good as a modern instrument). dn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Peacock
Date: 2019-03-08 14:27
I'm not sure the wraparound Buffet is as early as 1920s. The throat A key has the adjusting screw on it, and I believe that only became standard around the mid-1930s. I think there was a period when wraparound and standard register keys coexisted. Something else that might discriminate is whether the LH lower joint lever keys are mounted on one pillar or two. Again, that was in transition in the 1930s, so double pillars and the A screw would definitely argue for 1935-ish or later.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modernicus
Date: 2019-03-10 06:22
The wraparound register key was more of an alternative style or option that was around for a while, starting around maybe the 1880s? and then continuing until, well, that's what we're debating... I guess late 1920s or 30s. The straight register key was always around, as I have several early Buffet Crampons dating back to around 1850, up to 1906- and actually most have straight register keys.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
