Leblanc Archives
Dear Bernie,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding Leblanc's VSP and V40 clarinets. I have
some information for you. I would appreciate you sharing information you have
found with me, too.
There is quite a bit of information about the VSP. Perhaps you know most of
this:
1. April 29, 1974 price list
a. First listing
b. Described as "first professional non-wood clarinet"
c. Model number 7177
2. May 1, 1983 price list
a. Model number is now 7277
3. April 1, 1984 price list
a. Model 7277 VSP is now the "Pete Fountain" model
4. Feb. 1, 1985 price list
a. Model 7277 is now just plain VSP
b. New "Pete Fountain" line introduced
5. Jan. 10, 1991 price list
a. No 7277 VSP (from plastic) listed
b. First listing of VSP grenadilla in two models:
7820 all grenadilla
7810 grenadilla body and resotone barrel and bell
c. Bore = 14.65 mm
6. Dec. 15, 1997 price list
a. Both 7820 and 7810 VSP models now have bore = 14.60 mm
7. Jan. 1, 1999
a. Last listing for 7810
8. March 15, 2002 price list
a. Last listing for VSP France model 7820
The V40 is mysterious, and I, too, have not found out much about it. Perhaps
you already know of this:
1. March 1, 1982 price list
a. First listing of V40 (but I have not been able to find price lists from
1981)
b. Non-wood
c. Bore = 14.85 mm
2. Still listed in 1997
That's all I have right now for the V40. It may be possible that I can find
some more material.
I hope this helps you. Again, I would appreciate you sharing with me additional
information you may have.
Thanks,
Debbie
Dr. Deborah Check Reeves
Curator of Education
Associate Professor of Music
National Music Museum
The University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD 57069
(605) 677-5306
orgs.usd.edu/nmm