snLeblanc Normandy

Earlier Normandys had the Normandy sheidl emblem and the world FRANCE
just below the shield.  These ones seem to be from the 1950s and
before.  They may have had plastic bells, etc with no designation
differences until they were later stamped Special, 4, etc.

Before the buyout Normandy had an entire line of Clarinets. Normandy
(ebonite), Normandy 4, 8, 10, and 12. They also had “Special” models in
which some may have had silver plated keys (a step up), others ebonite
bells (a step down) and Buffet/Selmer type keywork.  After the
buyout I believe only Normandy 4s existed.  Bores are identical to
the Noblet 40/45 line; very good rich tone though thicker wood bell and
tenons not as tight fitting the tone is slightly not as complex nor as
spread.

Normandy also had a 5 and 7 model.  The Normandy 7 had the
Buffet/Selmer type keywork (not inline trill keys but offset).  The
Normandy 5 had inline trill keys and a plastic barrel and bell.

Since Selmer USA’s purchase of GLeBlanc USA (primarily a distributor)
the Normandy line seems to have been dropped.  The Normandy 4 is
now a Noblet 4.

Overall, these are very good instruments for the money when properly
set up.

– Some Normandy Special sn 9541A  had a stamp “Made by Noblet”
at the very top of the top joint.

The Normandy was the entry-level wooden clarinet within the Leblanc
range. Some of the early Normandy models are stamped “MADE by NOBLET”,
and early Normandy brochures include ample references to the instruments
as being Noblet products.

The early generations of Normandy soprano clarinets had simplified
keywork compared to the Noblets. The Normandy went through multiple
revisions during the 1950’s, with successive generations losing the
simplifications used on the earlier instruments. By the late 1950’s,
wooden models without simplified keywork had been introduced. These were
very similar to the Noblet instruments of the day. 

The Original Normandy had a logo with a narrow shield with a diagonal
“Normandy” in a narrow script font with serifs on the first and last
letters. The instruments were also marked “MADE IN FRANCE” at the top of
the joints, barrel, and bell.

Most of these instruments are encountered with unplated German silver
keywork, but some are known with bright nickel plating. The body and
barrel of the Original Normandy can be found in unstained and
black-stained finishes.

Some Specials can be found with the shared post for the G# and A throat
keys as used on the Original Normandy, but most were made with separate
suspensions for the throat keys. As with the Original Normandy, the
Special was equipped with a composite bell.

The Normandy Special had the same logo as the Original Normandy, with
“SPECIAL” stamped above the Normandy shield on the upper joint. This
logo was not used on later generations of Normandys with Buffet-style
trill keys. The instruments were also stamped with “MADE by NOBLET” at
the top of the upper joint.

Normandy Specials are commonly found with bright nickel-plated keywork,
but some were made with unplated German silver keywork. Some Specials
with silver-plated keywork have also been reported.

The France Reso-Tone was stamped with the wider Normandy shield with
serifs on the “N” and “y” .Early Reso-Tones had “MADE IN FRANCE” at the
top of the upper joint, while later Reso-Tones were marked “MADE IN
FRANCE” above the register key and “MADE by NOBLET” above the Normandy
logo at the top of the upper joint.

The France Reso-Tone was equipped with unplated German silver keywork,
as found on the Original Normandy and some of the Specials. The wide
Normandy shield with serifed “N” and “y” was used on this model.

This was a short-lived model. By 1958, the USA-made Normandy 14 Reso-Tone
had been introduced.

The Transitional Normandy is found with unplated German silver keywork
and bright nickel-plated keywork. Examples are known with composite and
wooden bells. The narrow Normandy shield with serifed “N” and “y” was
used on these models. The instruments were also marked “MADE by NOBLET”
at the top of the upper joint. 

Models 5, 7, and 10 differed only in the composition of the barrel and
bell. Initially, the Model 5 was equipped with a composition “Tone-Brite”
barrel and bell; the Model 7 had a wooden barrel and composite bell, and
Model 10 featured a wooden barrel and bell. All have bright
nickel-plated keys, while both black-stained and unstained finishes can
be found on the body. The wide Normandy logo with serifed “N” and “y”
and the word FRANCE underneath the shield was used on these models.

Model 5 disappeared from the Normandy lineup by 1961, replaced by the
Model 7 which was then equipped with a “Tone-Brite” composite barrel and
bell. This iteration of the Model 7 was gone by 1966. Early Model 7 and
Model 10 Normandys were not stamped with a model number, but by 1966 the
Model 10 was marked with a 10 on the upper joint above the wide Normandy
shield.

A c.1962 brochure lists the Normandy 7 at a price of $172.50 and the
Model 10 at $182.50. In 1966, the Normandy 10 carried a list price of
$189.50

Serial number analysis shows that the Model 10 remained in production
until at least 1967.Model 10

The body and barrel of the 5P were wooden. Early 5P models were equipped
with was composite bells, but by around 1962 these had been changed to
wooden. The keywork was nickel-plated.

In 1960, the Normandy 5P had a list price of $159.50. A c.1962 brochure
shows the 5P, now upgraded with a wooden bell, offered at $200.00 list.

By 1964, the Model 5P had been replaced by the Model 10P.

The Model 14 featured yet another new logo, a wide-type shield with
“Normandy” in flowing script without serifs. A 1958 ad shows that the
Model 14 could be obtained with a black, gold, red, or white plastic
body. 

The 14P had the serifed Normandy shield used on Models 5, 5P, 7, and 10
stamped on its body. On the upper joint, FRANCE appears below the
Normandy shield. The bell of the 14P, oddly, had the same script
Normandy logo as used on the USA-made Normandy 14.

In 1960, the list price of a Normandy 14P was $149.50.

A c.1962 brochure offers the Model 6 at a list price of $162.50. 

A c.1962 brochure shows the Normandy 140P at a list price of $179.00. In
1966, the Normandy 140P had a list price of $199.50.

In 1966, the list price of a Normandy 10P was $245.00. 

In 1966, the Normandy 8 had a list price of $175.00.

Serial number analysis shows that the Model 8 was in production by 1965
and was produced through at least 1967. 

Unlike the Model 8, the 208 had inline trill keys mounted on four sets
of posts. The 208 sported a very large circular logo with a large “S” in
the centre flanked by “Wm. H. Stubbins” in script. The Stubbins logo was
located under the Normandy shield on the upper joint.

In 1966, the Normandy 208 was offered at a list price of $199.50.

Serial number analysis shows that the new Model 7 remained in production
through at least 1970. 

Keywork details have changed somewhat over the decades. Early Model 4
instruments appear identical to the Model 10, with needle spring
suspension for the C#/G# key and trill keys that are flat for their
entire length. The C#/G# spring was eventually changed over to a coil
spring, and the trill keys acquired the contoured profiles of their
Noblet cousins.

After Conn-Selmer bought out Leblanc the Normandy 4 became the Noblet
4 before being phased out with the Bliss line of student clarinets.

The 4 Special has the familiar Normandy 4 shield logo with “Special”
above in flowing script.
Serial number analysis shows that the 4 Special remained in production
through at least 1977 

• “4” in sheild
• The 4 is now a Noblet 4 intermediate clarinet sold by LeBlanc
  (3/2006)

906xx Normandy 4
(purchased in 1978)

New Normandy 4 logo (bottom)

• Has that trumpet bell shape above the Normandy 4 stamp

• “5” below the Normandy emblem in a circle
• Keywork has inline trill keys.  Plastic barrel and bell

• “8” above shield similar to N10 model  OR
• “8” in circle below Shield and Made in France

• “10” above shield
• “France” is below the shield emblem

• “12” above the shield