Artikel: Buffet Crampon Pre-R13

General description : A very strange pre-R13 clarinet! The matching serials are 19990, which dates to the Christmas days of 1935. This cannot be true, as this clarinet is surely not that old and definitely not a pre-war model. It has the standard 17/6 modern keywork. I did some online investigation but I wasn´t able to find the exact model for this particular clarinet. I tend to believe this is a R13-prototype from the early 1950´s, as it has the typical R13-cutout below the right-hand pinky plateau. But it also has the typical pre-R13 identifications such as the shared post for the throat keys, the triangular folded metal trill key guide and the non-wing bridge key. It also has the flat spring on the C#/G# key, but that was found on the very early R13 models also. Interesting is the bore of this instrument : 14.95 – 14.75 mm. So definitely not a cylindrical bore as found on the pre-R13 models form the 1950´s. Of course it´s extremely strange this clarinet has matching serials 19990…. Could this be a stamp mistake at the Buffet factory? Should it be 39990 (end 1950)? That would make more sense to me…. I´ve seen other R13-prototype Buffet clarinets from the early 1950´s…..
The case is a very nice vintage case in black leather. No logo on the case, but it looks like a Selmer case from the 1950´s.

Condition : This clarinet is in very good condition. The grenadille wooden parts have no damage or chips. The upper main part has been professionally pinned due to an earlier outside crack: absolutely no issue. All other parts are free of cracks.
The nickel/silver plated keywork is in almost perfect condition. No wear or flaking, only some very light corrosion on a couple of the keys.
The clarinet had a complete overhaul in March 2022 in-house at MRO Saxophones. All pads renewed, tenons cork renewed, wooden parts cleaned and threated with bore oil, keywork polished, springs and keywork adjusted and test-played.

Warranty : 1 year full wanrranty.

Level : Professional.

Body : Grenadilla wood.
Condition : very good condition.
Visual : light scratches from normal use.
Repairs : repaired crack (pinned) on upper main part.
Engraving : Buffet logo on all parts.

Keywork : nickel/silver plated.
Condition : very good, with light corrosion on a couple of keys.
Pads : all renewed. Mixture of cork pads and traditional pads.

Barrel : 65.4 mm

Bore : 14.95 – 14.75 mm

Case : Vintage black leather case (Selmer?)
Case condition : Very good condition. No damage.

History : From professional player in Hawthorne, NY, USA.

Remarks : Included is a very sought-after Buffet ´Chedeville´ mouthpiece, size C crown. It´s complete with ligature and the original Buffet protection cap.