Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-05-25 20:23
I don't know when Buffet began using the polycylindrical bore in the E&S model. Buffet's factory records may or may not be sufficiently detailed to give an answer so you could try contacting them. Some Buffet employees who were with the company when the change occurred may still be alive but finding them could be a challenge.
It occurred to me that the Buffet serial number list might provide an answer if it showed a point where the factory designation for the E&S changed but I now think that approach is a dead-end. The earliest K-series E&S reported on the Buffet site is serial number 4000, dated November 2, 1952. (That there are K-series E&S clarinets with serial numbers below 4000 has been documented on this Board before. Indeed Vytas Krass had one with a 3-digit number and a design that would place it in the 1930s. On eBay, instruments in the K3000 range have turned up occasionally. Buffet's serial number look-up is not comprehensive, however. To me, it appears to be based on factory records -- some of which may have been lost during WWII or during a financial crisis the company reportedly faced in the early 1950s. Or maybe the company may have decided not to incorporate all the data they have.)
The model designation given for K4000 is:
clarinettes Evette n�1 sib 440
This designation continues through 4806, dated January 10, 1953. (Note that this, and all my following discussion of serial number ranges are based on sampling. I don't have time to trace every individual number. Also note that the "Evette" designation in the look-up refers to the E&S, not the student Evette model. Buffet made the student Evette in a separate factory and Evette serial numbers are not included in the company's serial number look-up.)
From 4807 - 4999, there are no clarinets with an "Evette" designation. However, beginning with 4807 and ending with 4999, there is a batch of instruments simply designated as "Canada." Were these E&S models made for Canadian distribution? Whatever they were, their appearance in the sequence strikes me as more than mere coincidence. In any case, at 5000, "Canada" disappears and "Evette" reappears with a slightly different designation"
Clarinettes n�1 440 Evette
No. 5000 was made on April 30, 1953. Buffet continued to use the same designation for this model through February 14, 1972 (Serial No. 29999.)
At this point, the E&S disappears from the serial number list for a gap that extends to 40000 (February 3, 1977) when the model (probably) reappears as
Clarinettes E13 Nickel�es
Thus, the two clear changes in model designation in the serial number list occur in 1953 and 1977 (or, if you prefer 1972). The first is too early to indicate a change to the polycylindrical bore, because it precedes the official introduction of that feature in the R13 (1955). (I hope we have that one cleared up.) The second date, 1977 (or even 1972), is too late.
The serial number look-up makes no reference to E&S manufacture during the 5-year period between February 14, 1972 and February 3, 1977 (30000 - 39999). However, I have an E&S with a 36xxx serial number. Perhaps some factory records are missing or were overlooked when Buffet created its SN database.
Here's my theory. I think Buffet began using the basic R13 design (polycylindrical bore, undercut tone holes) in its E&S model sometime during the first half of 1961. I base this estimate on one piece of very thin evidence so take it with a grain of salt. All the evidence I've seen indicates that sometime between K4000 and K10000 (possibly earlier but no later than K5000), Buffet began adding the designation "Master Model" to all its E&S clarinets. This practice continued until sometime between K10000 and K11000 when Buffet changed its policy and only designated an occasional E&S as a Master Model because it performed particularly well on final inspection. Why did Buffet add and then drop the Master Model designation? It's my theory that Buffet wanted to let customers know that, even though R13s had the new polycylindrical bore, E13s still had the older cylindrical Master Bore (Buffet's terminology). In other words, at this point, "Master Model" meant "Master Bore Model." Then, when Buffet began making E&S clarinets with a polycylindrical bore, the company dropped the "automatic" Master Model" designation. That would suggest a delay of around 5 years from the time Buffet introduced the polyclyindrical bore in the R13 to the time the company incorporated that bore in the E&S.
Whether that theory is correct or not, I believe that the polycylindrical bore was adopted for the E&S no later than the first half of 1961 because I have an E&S, numbered 106xx (not a Master Model) that appears to have a polycylindrical bore. I don't have bore-measuring tools but the upper joint exit bore is significantly larger than the entry bore and AFAIK, Buffet never used a cone. The instrument also has undercut tone holes. Of course, the upper joint could have been re-bored sometime over the years and the undercutting might not be original but that seems unlikely to me.
There is some contrary evidence that I can't ignore. In a much earlier thread on these instruments, Pat Parkin claimed to have a K8xxx master model that had a polycylindrical bore and undercut toneholes. If his assessment of the instrument is correct, that would indicate that Buffet introduced the R13 features to the E&S as early as 1956 (and my theory is hogwash). Supporting the likely accuracy of his assessment is evidence that he had considerable experience with a variety of clarinets. On the other hand, he doesn't indicate in any detail how he determined the bore was polycylindrical and, if differences are small, measuring them can be tricky business.
So, annev, I'm pretty sure you have a polycylindrical bore though I doubt one can tell by intonation alone.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2011-05-25 22:26)
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