 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: modusmongo
Date: 2013-04-06 09:11
Attachment: IMG_20130326_122542.jpg (153k)
Hi folks. I have picked up an old Buffet Crampon clarinet in A. The one with the unremovable barrel. Serial number 1E421. Seems to date to 1910 according to this site: http://www.musictrader.com/buffet.html.
Can someone tell me a bit about it. It had black laquer which I removed. I'm rebuilding it for fun...
photo: http://www.petermcc.com/img/bc.jpg
Take care!
Post Edited (2013-04-06 09:17)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-06 12:49
The long top joint on these clarinets looks a lot like early Buffet and Selmer basset horns as they have the same bulge between the socket and the logo.
I've seen this type played by the clarinettists of Les Musiciens du Louvre Grenoble when they were at the BBC Proms playing Bizet several years ago.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modernicus
Date: 2013-04-06 21:03
I believe Buffet made this style from at least the 1860's through the teens or twenties. I've seen claims that is was a "lesser" level of instrument at the time compared to a removal barrel, however, I haven't seen any evidence of this. I've got a Buffet C on the way to me that has both a one piece body and the barrel is integrated like this one. Never even seen a picture of this variation before, so needless to say I'm pretty excited. Whatever they are, the looks are quite gorgeous to me!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modernicus
Date: 2013-04-09 21:01
Well, it came today- it's an Eb, not a C! Pics to come...Serial # shows 1906. Not marked LP but luckily is! Playing a C produces a perfectly in tune Eb. The mouthpiece isn't marked but is wood and looks like it matches the era (tenon is wrapped in red string even). I bet it hasn't been played in 50+ years- attic fresh straight from France.
Some random info on this style- not too many manufacturers made them it seems- one member here (Chris J?) has a Martin Thibouville like this and I've seen pics of several Couesnon C's like this as well.
Post Edited (2013-04-10 15:06)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modusmongo
Date: 2013-04-11 06:58
Sounds cool! I'm looking forward to your photos. I'll have my refurb done any day now and will be posting before and after pics.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2013-04-16 03:43
I have a Bb from 1894 (714H) that *had* the integrated barrel. Sadly, during overhaul they had to convert it to a regular barrel b/c of cracks that extended up through to the top. Ruined the instrument,
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modusmongo
Date: 2013-04-22 11:15
Here are some photos of the clarinet before and after. I'm sure there will be some people who think that I have ruined it ;-)
I bought this for 40 euros at the local piano shop. I went in looking for a screw and came out with this and a Noblet from the 70s. I thought that it was plastic, but I didn't care, I wanted the parts for my little project. I assme that a purist would have left the paint/laquer/whatever it was. I took it off, thereby all but erasing the logos and the sqerial number, but the result is much more pleasing to me.
So the first photos are from disassembally, then a look at the raw wood of the lower sectin next to the upper which I has just oiled, followed by the finished clarinet with it's original mouthpiece (which rocks!).
Post Edited (2013-04-22 11:19)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-04-23 12:26
modusmongo -
The bell on your A clarinet is certainly not original. Does it have the trademark?
If the mouthpiece is stamped Buffet and made of wood, it's almost certainly original. The re-corking job is very sloppy.
My ligatures from that period have very thin tabs, as does the one in your photo, so I'm guessing it's original. The cap also looks original.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modusmongo
Date: 2013-04-23 17:24
Hi Ken. Thanks for your reply.
Actually the bell is the original. The story goes like this: the ring was REALLY loose, way too loose to glue. So I took it to the local luthier to see if he had the machine that compresses the ring. Nope, but he was all too happy to give the ring a good smack with a metal hammer before I could even get my brain in gear. Naturally, the bell cracked, but the ring was solid. Merde. So I took it home and removed the ring to fix the crack; another crack appered. I fixed the cracks and decided to sand the bell down. I like it, but of course it takes it out of the "original" state. But then again, so does removing the paint.
It does play real nice tho!
And that was my very first recork. I redid it this afternoon - much better ;-)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
