 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: VICKIE
Date: 2002-02-10 18:18
HI,
I have an old clarinet that was my Grandfathers. He was born in 1910 and played the clarinet at some time during his life. He passed the horn on to me when I was in middle school and I played it until high school when I got another horn. My band directors didn't particularly care for the horn because it played a little flat and there wasn't a way to shorten the barrel.
Any way I suppose the horn was born sometime after 1910. I do not know if my grandfather got it new or used. It is single jointed and does not come apart in the middle.Although the bell , mouthpiece, and barrel detach.
It is a Buffet . The only other markings say Crompon & Co , A Paris, Made in France, Carl Fischer Inc., new York. I don't see a serial number anywhere . Maybe I don't know where to look. About five or 6 years ago I had all the pads and corks replaced . The person who repaired it said the old pads were leather and the keys were German ( I can't remember if he said nickle or silver). It has the original mouthpiece and cover which have the same markings as the horn.
No one that I have talked to has seen another horn like this or has an Idea of the value. My grandfather said it was a Bflat clarinet . It is in great condition and is playable. Anyone have an idea of its's value or how to find out? Help.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-02-10 18:59
Vickie: german silver and nickel silver refer to the same alloy which has been used for clarinet keys for many years. Look close, it's probably "Crampon" and I would imagine it's a collector's item...i.e. valuable.
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-02-10 19:32
If I remmember right. Carl Fischer imported Buffets with his stencil on them for years. They were good horns and you may have a real goodie there!
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Author: VICKIE
Date: 2002-02-10 21:27
Bob. Crampon is correct. Have you ever seen or heard of a clarinet that does not come apart in the middle? Any insight on haw or where to have it evaluated? V
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-02-10 21:55
Rossi clarinets are one-piece (except for bell, barrel, and mpc.).
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-02-10 22:25
Yes, I have two fine Buffet clarinets, Bb(1912) and A(1921) that don't come apart in the middle. They both have low Eb, Ab/Eb, art C#/G#, and no 7th ring. Physically, they are fairly light weight, weighing less than a modern R13. The value is not determined but they may do ok in auctions as they play quite well. I expect they will bring less than modern R13's.
Good luck!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2002-02-10 22:27
Once piece clarinet designs do appear now and then though I hadn't heard of any Buffets made that way before.
I doubt that it is a collector's item though as it sounds like it was made within the last 100 years, particularly if it is otherwise a standard Boehm Bb clarinet with either a normal register key or wrap around register key. Its value would be a direct function of its condition and how well it plays. It would simply be considered a used professional horn. Age would detract from its value since acoustic design has improved since then. Yet many of these older horns do play very well.
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Author: William Hughes
Date: 2002-02-11 02:10
My Buffets are like Wes'...Bb (1913) and A (1926) are both full Boehm, one piece, imported by Carl Fischer, who was an exclusive importer, I was told on this BB. Value depends on condition, but more likely in hundreds rather than thousands (of US dollars) from what I have seen on eBay.
VICKIE: The serial number should be on the back or the main section, just above the bottom joint.
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Author: graham
Date: 2002-02-11 07:34
I recently bought a one piece Hawkes & Sons Excelsior Sonorous Class B flat, marled LPB flat (which means "low pitch"). I found that a bit strange as it was said to be c. 1920, and I thought there would be no need to stamp the pitch on an instrument made that late. It's cocus wood and has some extra keys but i do not think it is a full Boehm. Makes a sweet sound, but I only got it two weeks ago so have yet to make the best of it. I parted with £500 for the privilege.
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Author: Kathy Beatty
Date: 2002-02-11 14:00
No one yet has mentioned that you can easily buy a shorter barrel to correct the flatness problem.
Kathy
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Author: VICKIE
Date: 2002-02-11 23:07
Yes , thanks for reminding me. I haven't played this instrument in years and had forgotten about the extra keys and alternate fingerings, although I am not sure what you mean by 7th ring. I am not familiar with the modern version you mentioned. thanks for the reply.
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Author: Rob
Date: 2002-02-11 23:11
I also own an old Buffet full-boehm Bb with no middlejoint, made (according to B&H) in 1928. Mine was not made for Carl Fischer, but instead was made for an Italian dealer in Pisa, Gastone Bini. You can get a shorter barrel, but I know that on mine the tenon that fits into the bottom of the barrel is very long and so a standard barrel will not fit. If this is the case for you, you may need to have a barrel custom made. Personally, I do not have any pitch problems such as you describe, but it took a me great deal of trial and error to find a setup for the horn that allowed me to play in tune. It is worth it I think, if the horn is in good condition. I find it's playing characteristics (for me anyway) far superior to anything I've played of more recent vintage from Buffet. That is just my own opinion though.
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Author: VICKIE
Date: 2002-02-11 23:13
thanks, define Boehm. Yes the serial number is faint ad looks like maybe A72 or could be A 12. For thousands maybe I could part with it , but not for hundreds, too much sentimental value and it does apper to be a fine instrument. Maybe I'll have the opportunity to use it agian , or my off spring. THanks for the reply
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Author: VICKIE
Date: 2002-02-11 23:17
Kathy, Where? Any good music store? My grandfather said it came with two barrels, one long and one short but I believe they both may have been lost . I have two barrels , one is plastic, the other wood, but it is the only thing with the clarinet that does not have a stencil.
Thanks
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