snBuffet Serial Numbers

 


Buffet Crampon Clarinets

Buffet Serial Numbers

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Serial Numbers breakdown

Around 1950 Buffet adopted a new model identification of
“No1” or “NO1”.  This coincided wth the polycylindrical bore
introduction.  Even though the R13 was officially introduced in 1955
some versions of it apparently existed beforehand, though 1955 was the
official final production design.

The Current code break is like the following:

BC1131-2-0    broken down as BCaabb(c)-x-y

“aa” may contain 11 (for Bb or Sib in french), 12 for A or
La, 15 for Eb or Mib, 17 for F, plus other code desgnations.

“bb” specifies the model of R13.  “31” is the R-13,
02 for the E13, 11 for RC, 12 for the RC (possibly 444hrz, need
clarification), 23 for the Bassett, 83 for the Prestige RC
Bass to low Eb, 93 for the Pretige Bass to Low C, plus other designations.

“c” is optional and used to designate G for Greenline, L
for the optional LH Eb lever.

“x” specifies the keywork plating such as “02” or “2” for
silver plating and 5 or 05 for nickel keywork

“y” is used to specify the pitch.  “0” for 440, 2,
for 442, 4 for 444.  If this is not designated then it defaults to
440.

1825-1885 no records
1885 1A-408A
1886 409A-999A
1886 A1 – A886
1887 A887-A999
B1 – B999
1B – 417B
1888 498B-999B
1C – 999C
C1 – C300
1889 C301-C999
D1 – D999
1K5211D-348D
1890 349D – 999D
E1 – E999
1E – 316E
1891 317E – 999E
F1 -F999
1 F-190F
1892 191F – 999F
G1 – G999
1G – 58G
1893 59G – 999G
H1 – H999
1H -1 84H
1894 185H – 999H
I1 – I665
1895 I666 – I999
1I – 999I
J1 – J617
1896 J618 – J999
1J – 999J
K1 – K514
1897 K515 – K999
1 K – 999K
L1 – L561
1898 L562 – L999
1L – 999L
M1 – M590
1899 M591 – M999
1M – 999M
N1 – N440
1900 N441 – N999
1N – 999N
O1 – O521
1901 O522 – O999
1O – 999O
P1 – P999
1P – 374P
1902 375P – 999P
R1 – R999
1R – 404R
1903 405R – 999R
S1 – S999
1S – 999S
T1 – T40
1904 T41 – T999
621T – 999T
U1 – U999
1U – 81U
1905 82U – 999U
V1 – V999
1V – 751V
1906 752V – 999V
X1 – X999
1X – 999X
Y1 – Y840
1907 Y841 – Y999
1Y – 999Y
Z1 – Z999
1Z – 812Z
1908 813Z – 999Z
1A2 – 1A999
2A1-999A1
1B1 – 1B999
B21 – 60B1
1913 1H501-1H999
2H1 – 999H1
1I2 – 1I999
2I1 – 413I1
1914 414I1 – 999I1
41J2 – 1J999
2J1 – 224J1
1915 225J1 – 999J1
1K2 – 1K341
1916 1K342-1K999
2K1 – 460K1
1917 461K1-999K1
1K2 -1K521
1918 1K522-1K999
2L1 – 661L1
1919 662L1 -999L1
1M2 – 1M800
1920 1M801-1M999
2M1 – 999M1
11N2 – 1N515
1921 1N516 -1N999
2N1 – 999N1
1O2 – 1O193
1922 1O194 -1O999
2O1 – 692O1
1923 693O1 -999O1
1P2 – 1P999
2P1 – 536P1
1924 537P1 – 999P1
1R2 -1R999
1R1 – 226R1
1925 227R1 – 999R1
1S2 -1S876
1926 1S877 – 1S999
2S1 – 999S1
1T2 – 1T508
1927 1T509 – 1T542
1928 1 – 2500
1929 2501 – 4999
1930 5000 – 7499
1931 7500 – 9999
1932 10000 – 12500
1933 12501 – 15000
1934 15001 -18000
1935 18001-20000
1936 20001 – 22000
1937 22001 – 24000
1938 24001 – 26000
1939 26001 – 27000 1943 – the two LH side spatula keys on separate posts
1945 27001 – 28000
1945 -1957

about 3000 per year

about 3000 per year (SNs are approx)
1946 – 28001 – 30500
1947 – 30501 – 33000
1948 – 33001 – 35500
1949 – 35501 – 38000
1950 – 38001 – 40500
1951 – 40501 – 43000
1952 – 43001 – 45500
1953 – 45501 – 48000
1954 – 48001 – 50500
1955 – 50501 – 53000
1956 – 53001 – 55500
1957 – 55501 – 58834
 

1955 – official production of the R-13

1958 58835 – 59143
1959 59144 – 62457
1960 62458 – 65956
1961 65957 – 68717
1962 69718 – 75319
1963 75320 – 78093
Apparently the most wanted Buffets are from the range
83k to 200k (1965 to 1979)
1964 to 1966 78094 – 93203
To the right I calculate out and average production per year.
1964 = 78094 – 83130
1965 = 83131 – 88167
1966 = 88168 – 93203
1967 93204 – 99331
1968 99332 -105617
1969 105618-114416
1970 111417-117747
1971 117748-126209
1972 126210-133903
1973 133904-143517
1974 143518-153323
1975 153324-163567
1976 163568-173826
1977 173827-183901
1978 183902-191872
1979 191873-201531
1980 201532-210652
1981 210653-221260
1982 221261-234695
1983 234696-250371
1984 250372-266396
1985 266397-277482
1986 277483-292267
1987 292268-302623
1988 302624-312699
1989 312700-324769
1990 324770-
Below are approximations taken from the Buffet-Crampon
website which allows serial number searches
325,000 Dec 15, 1989
350,000 Oct 17, 1991
400,000  May 15, 1995
450,000 Sept 16, 1998
500,000 June 24, 2002
550,000 Nov 7, 2005 (or maybe July 11)
600,000 noting returned
It seems as though they have a very long lay over for
christmas and new years holidays.  12/15 – 1/15 where no serial
numbers exist.
2003  – 512000 512000 is Dec 12, 2003

512500 is Jan 27, 2003 …
yes a later serial number of 500 yields nearly 12 months earlier

512500 –
2005 538900
4/18/2005 545021

 

Between 1968 and 1974 Buffet also made the Super Dynaction Bb clarinet.
Few of these are known in existance though they seem to have a low demand
due to their jazz heritage.

Evette Master models with the cutout under the RH  crow feet are the
identified R-13 rejects.

Approximately 1990 Buffet changed their lineup.

Pre-1990

Pro to Beginner:  R13 (Pro) – C12 (Intermediate) – E45
(Intermediate) – E11 (Beginner) – B12 (Beginner)

Post 1990

Pro to Begginer: R13 (Pro) – E13 (Intermediate) & C12 (conservatory
intermediate) – E12 (Intermediate) –
E11 (Beg) – B12 (Beg)

C-13 (aka International)
is the equivalent to an E-11 but it was manufactured as a “private brand”
for another US company

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Buffet E-13 Clarinets

 Serial
number
Year of
make
Notes, pics
10109-16377

1961-1966

16378-23007

1966-1969

23008-29623 1969-1973
29624-32167 1973-1975
32168-42803 1975-1977
42804-49092 1977-1979
49093-56536 1979-1981
56537-62684 1981-1983
62685-70191 1983-1987

Buffet Harmony Clarinets

 Serial
number
Year of
make
Notes, pics
19506-19578 1950
19579-19638 1951
19639-19680 1952
19681-19781 1953
19782-19965 1954
19966-20091 1955
20092-20154 1956
20155-20237 1958
20238-20401 1959
20402-20502 1960
20503-20511 1961
20512-20692 1962
20693-20775 1963
20776-20864 1964
20855-20911 1965
20912-21054 1966
21055-21209 1967
21210-21358 1968
21359-21432 1969
21433-21500 1970
21501-21587 1971
21558-21627 1972
21628-21702 1973
21703-21796 1974
21797-21953 1975
21954-21999 1976
22000-22114 1977
22115-22233 1978
22234-22350 1979
22351-22425 1980
22462-22535 1981
22536-22692 1982
22693-22859 1983
22860-23059 1984
23060-23274 1985
23275-23462 1986
23463-23619 1987
23620-23875 1988
23876-24190 1989
24191-24506 1990
24509-25221 1991
25222-26077 1992
26078-26734 1993

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