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Re: Evette Sponsored by Buffet

Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2016-10-29 09:47

The Evette was Buffet's student model from the 1930s (or perhaps earlier) until sometime in the early 1980s. For at least part of this period, it was made (concurrently) in both plastic and wood versions. Sometime during the 1980s, the plastic model was re-branded by Buffet as the B12. At the same time, the wood model became the E11.

Prior to 1960, the Evette logo specifies "sponsored by Buffet." This has suggested to some people that Buffet did not make these instruments but rather another manufacturer (Malerne is the most often-cited suspect) stencilled them for Buffet. As the brochure states, Buffet claimed that these instruments were made in a different factory from the one where Buffet manufactured its professional and intermediate (Evette and Schaeffer) clarinets but that the Evettes were manufactured under the supervision of experienced Buffet technicians. There was apparently quite a bit of moonlighting among factory workers during this period so perhaps both stories are true. Perhaps at least some of the "... sponsored by..." clarinets were made in the Malerne factory by moonlighting Buffet workers. I don't think there is anyone alive now who was working in the factories back then.

In 1960, Buffet changed the Evette logo to an oval with simply EVETTE stamped inside. AFAIK, the change was made for both the wood and plastic model at the same time but that may not be the case. The shine, the ring, the shape of the bridge link on the lower joint, and perhaps most importantly, the 6-digit serial number suggests to me that your clarinet is plastic. I am not aware that Buffet ever made hard rubber clarinets. From your pictures (including the pictures of your case), it looks to me like you have one of the later "sponsored by..." Evettes, probably made sometime during the 1950s or possibly the late 1940s. I doubt the F in the serial number specifies a 442 pitch. AFAIK, Buffet only used the F for that designation on its professional models and only sometime after your clarinet would have been made.

BTW, the brochure was produced not by Buffet, but rather by Carl Fischer, Buffet's U.S. distributor. It appears to be from the 1940s. As near as I can tell, Evette and Schaeffer succeeded Buffet's original founders sometime in the 1890s. The design of the clarinets in the pictures (somewhat older than KSCop's clarinets) and the prices are also consistent with that estimate.

Best regards,
jnk

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