 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Michael A. Cedeno
Date: 2001-07-16 04:52
I have come across a Buffet clarinet, stamped by Crompon & Company in Paris, and on the bell is stamped Carl Fischer, New York with the intitials "LP" stamped below it. From what I can see, the serial number is 3311. Additionally, I own another clarinet made by Aubert, also in Paris, and the serial number to this one is 13. Please contact me via e-mail if anyone has any information regarding these two fine musical instruments: macedeno@hotmail.com
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-07-16 16:42
LP means: Low (standard/modern) Pitch. If it's functional, it can be played with current musical groups. Buffet is a decent horn. Aubert horns are okay, so-so. What else do you need to know that we can't discuss here that may benefit other BBers?
- ron b -
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-07-16 17:52
Michael -
There's a serial number chart here on Sneezy at http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Buffet.html that shows Buffet # 3311 was made in 1929. At that time, Carl Fischer had exclusive U.S. import rights for Buffet and stamped its name on all imported instruments, so the stamp is additional proof of authenticity. The Buffet serial numbers from that period were small and stamped very lightly at the bottom rear of the upper and lower joints. It helps in reading the number to scrub the area with a damp toothbrush and look at it in sunlight coming from the side.
Buffets from that period often have the barrel shortened and rebored, and the upper joint above the register vent is also often rebored. This can spoil the tone and throw the intonation off. If the bore of the barrel or the top part of upper joint is less shiny than other areas, you should use a tuner and check the intonation very carefully before buying, particularly in the throat register and the 12ths in the left hand.
The old Buffets compare with modern R-13s as R-13s compare with the Leblanc Opus or Selmer Signature. An Opus or Signature, for me, has a "blow here and it comes out there" response -- always sounding good and always in tune, with a very even scale. My primary instruments are R-13s, which don't have this. In compensation, they permit more variety of tone color, and I have deliberately chosen that. Also, I prefer the basic sound of the Buffet to the Opus or Signature.
The lower serial number Buffets take this even further. I have a couple of instruments from the period. They take more control to play than later ones, but for me, they have a color and coherence of tone that nothing else can match. To get that, you have to learn to play them with the particular sound you want, and to play them in tune, since the intonation is also more flexible.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-07-17 01:39
I got a call from my repair tech that my FB 1925 Buffet is done. Then she said the original barrel had been rebored and shortened. Said that that ruined the intonation and sound. She is picking out a new barrel for the horn, and I will be getting a good mouthpiece for it.
What I would like to know is why would folks rebore those old barrels? Years ago I got an extra barrel and turned it down extra short to make playing in groups which are sharp possible. It also saves me in a pinch if I have to play the clarinet when it is cold. I use that barrel and switch as the horn warms up and raises pitch. No way would I touch the original barrel, so what gives with these old horns?
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Author: Jerry Hoedema
Date: 2001-07-17 04:21
It's funny that these particular clarinets should be a topic of discussion, just when I found this site for the first time.
I am a repair technician in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, Michigan area and have been specializing in woodwind repair since 1963. I was just offered a Buffet Crampon LP soprano clarinet (similar to the one mentioned in the first post with the Carl Fisher information on the bell).
This one is strange in that it has the wrap-around octave key, similar to the Albert System (venting on the front of the instrument). Everything else is modern design. The serial number is very faint, and unfortunately, the next-to-last number blends in to the grain of the wood. It appears to be 98211, which, according to charts would have been manufactured in 1969! Substituting an "I" for the 1 would make it 982I1, which would place its manufacture date around 1914 which seems more likely.
Does anyone know anything about this key and when Buffet changed over to the standard octave key?
Would this antique be of any interest, or just an oddity? It would have to be completely restored to be useable and I don't want to spent the time doing it if it is of no interest.
If anyone has any ideas, please e-mail me at gchoedema@juno.com as my time spent on the Internet is limited, but I check e-mail several times a day. Thanks!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-07-17 11:30
So long as it is LP, a Buffet, and needs only "standard" type repairs (pads, corks, and springs), I'd say it's worth restoring.
The wrap around octave key is unrelated to the Albert system. Many Albert system horns were produced without it and many Boehms were produced with it. Nor was it unique to Buffet. It was simply a popular design during some eras. It came and went a couple of times. From tracking serial numbers on horns I see offered on eBay, the last time it went out of style was in the 1930s sometime.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-07-17 16:15
The Boehm Buffet circa 1914 would definitely generate interest, but would not IMO command a greta price. After an excellent (& successful) overhaul it might bring $600+ or so depending on buyer.
As Dee spoke said w/her comment about LP (read: Low Pitch) ---- If its an HP (read: High Pitch) it would have little value, as it could not played well in ensemble or larger "gatherings".
Carl Fisher of NY was very active with importing of Buffet instruments, and like many importers of the day had their name embossed on the Buffet clarinets, depedning on how you look at it ... customization or micro-stenciling (NO QUESTION, IT IS A BUFFET).
Pre-WW2 and during the (great) War, Fishewr actively "bet on the come" importing many thousands while the "sun ws shining", what proved to be a very smart business decision. During WW2 & shortly after, there was a shortage of wood, which was used elsewhere.
Ask John Butler about the story of the Clarinet made from Propeller Wood.
Best,
mw
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Author: zimmjm
Date: 2006-09-05 01:06
I have a 1921 Buffet Crampon Bb Clarinet with the wraparound octave key, serial number 882N1. I don't know much else about it, but I suppose it would mean this design was used around this time. The case has integrated leather strap handles with two springloaded latches - I'm assuming its the original.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-09-05 05:41
The wraparound speaker key is more expensive to make and more difficult to get it lining up perfectly with the speaker bush which is probably why makers have gone for the easier option of a lever key on the underside which has less parts in it's construction and without the huge bend in it.
But where the wraparound key is better is in the fact the speaker bush is mounted above the bore centre line which out of condensation's way and much less likely to suffer from the gurgles.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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