Puzzlefox

1. Buffet Crampon Clarinet Serial Numbers
2. Evette Buffet Crampon Serial Numbers

All the research I've done says 1st Buffet started company in 1866 then Crampon came on board to form Buffet Crampon Co. Evette Schaeffer bought out Buffet Crampon in 1885 getting their own patent in 1867 starting with serial # 7xxx where Buffet Crampon left off. E/S went to serial # 29424 in 1927. My serial #fits in that period. This means that a bassoon with a serial number from late 2005 might easily be completed or delivered in early 2006. The delivery dates are much more accurate for firms that add the numbers to their instruments at the end of the production process. Amati Oscar Adler & Co en Sonora Benson Bell Buffet Crampon Wilhelm Heckel Gustav Mollenhauer.

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

Buffet E-13 Clarinets

Buffet Harmony Clarinets

Buffet Crampon is a French manufacturer of woodwind musical instruments, including oboes, flutes, saxophones, english horns and bassoons; however, the company is perhaps most famous for their clarinets, as Buffet is the brand of choice for many professionals.^[1]

Buffet Crampon began manufacturing musical instruments in 1825 exclusively in France, but has since expanded their business to include production facilities in Germany and China as well. Since the company's conception, Buffet Crampon has expanded to a worldwide market. Jérôme Perrod, Buffet Group's Chief Executive Officer, runs the Buffet Crampon, Besson, B&S, Antoine Courtois, Hans Hoyer, J. Keilwerth, Meinl Weston, Powell Flutes, Scherzer, and W. Schreiber brands.^[2]

History[edit]

Denis Buffet-Auger, of the Buffet family of Frenchmusical instrument makers, began making quality clarinets in Paris, France in 1825. The company expanded under Jean-Louis Buffet and his wife Zoé Crampon and became known as Buffet Crampon. (Another family member, Auguste Buffet jeune, who worked with famous clarinetist Hyacinthe Klosé to develop the Boehm system for clarinet, had his own business separate from Buffet Crampon.)

In 1850, Buffet Crampon established its headquarters at Mantes-la-Ville. The company continued to expand its range and quality in instrument production, beginning saxophone production in 1866, and winning numerous awards.

In 1877 Buffet acquired the Evette & Schaeffer Company and began to use that name as their instrument brand. In 1887 Buffet obtained a patent for a mechanism to control an extra key on an extended saxophone bell, extending the lower range from B to B♭. In 1908 Buffet began exporting instruments to the US. In 1910 Buffet introduced the Apogee premium model saxophone, which had innovative keywork features that were later adapted by other manufacturers. In 1918 Buffet began marketing their premium line instruments under their own name, while marketing lower grade instruments variously under the Evette & Schaeffer and Evette brands. During the 1930s Buffet began outsourcing Evette & Schaeffer instruments to other manufacturers.^[3]

In 1950, Buffet developed its famous R13 clarinet, an extremely popular professional-level clarinet. The company also began production of the Dynaction model saxophones that year, which would evolve into the Super Dynaction (1957) and the highly regarded S series (1973) models.^[3] Buffet also became the leading distributor of student-grade instruments in Europe, marketing French and Italian made saxophones under their Evette & Schaeffer brand. During the 1970s, the company's position in the student saxophone market collapsed in the face of competition from Yamaha, who offered higher quality and more up-to-date instruments, and lower cost East German, Czech, and Asian manufacturers. Their collapse in the student market accompanied a deteriorating position in the market for professional saxophones that led to their being discontinued in the mid-1980s. In 2008 Buffet re-entered the saxophone market with their 400 model, sourced from China.^[4]

In 1981, Buffet joined Boosey & Hawkes, which sold the French company to The Music Group in 2003. Two years later Buffet was bought by a French group. In 2006 Buffet Crampon acquired two brass instrument manufacturers, Antoine Courtois Paris and Besson. In 2008 Buffet Crampon acquired the Leblanc clarinet factory in La Couture-Boussey, Département of Eure, Haute-Normandie in France. In 2010, Buffet acquired the Julius Keilwerth company of Germany, taking charge of distribution of their distinctive saxophones. In 2014, Buffet introduced the professional level Senzo alto saxophone. The Senzo, built in a co-operative arrangement between Buffet and Keilwerth facilities, marked the return of Buffet saxophone production to France for the first time since the mid-1980s.^[5]

Recently, Buffet has made some efforts to protect the African Blackwood trees, which provide grenadilla wood for clarinets, from being eliminated by introducing some wood composite products to its line up. However, Buffet has decided not to adopt the Forest Stewardship Council's standard of sustainable forestry management. Buffet composite wood models do not have the grain structure of a true wood product and as such they do not have the issue of cracking due to environmental changes that are typically seen in clarinets and other wood instruments.

Evette and Evette & Schaeffer clarinets[edit]

Until the 1980s, only professional level clarinets carried the Buffet name. Lower priced clarinets for the beginner and intermediate market were branded 'Evette' and 'Evette & Schaeffer', respectively. For a time, the Evette clarinets actually were built by other manufacturers under Buffet's sponsorship, and these instruments are marked 'Evette sponsored by Buffet'. By the early 1970s, Buffet was making the Evettes in their own factory in Paris, and around 1979, manufacture was moved to a Buffet-owned factory in Germany. Evette & Schaeffer clarinets were made in Paris. Use of the Evette and Evette & Schaeffer brands ended around 1985, when the company began using the Buffet name on all its clarinets.

Clarinet models[edit]

Buffet Crampon has released several clarinet models from the mid-20th century onwards, with models ranging from student to professional in marketing. The development of new models has sometimes led to the discontinuation of older models. The student models tend to be made from ABS resin, whereas intermediate and professional models are usually made from grenadilla wood. The professional models are usually made from more select grenadilla wood, and are usually unstained. Various options have been made available for select professional models, including the Greenline option, additional keywork, and gold-plated keys.

B♭ soprano clarinets[edit]

Student[edit]

Intermediate[edit]

Professional[edit]

Harmony clarinets[edit]

All of Buffet Crampon's harmony clarinets are professional models released under the 'Prestige' label.

Bass clarinets[edit]

Double Reeds[edit]

Flute models[edit]

Originally Buffet Crampon flutes were made in Paris, France. But in 1981 the company was bought out by Boosey & Hawkes and their flutes were manufactured in Boosey & Hawkes factories in England (and later in Germany) over the period 1981 to 2004. In 2005 the Buffet Crampon company returned to French hands. In 2016 Buffet Crampon purchased Powell Flutes, Maynard, Massachusetts, which continues as a separate brand.

Modern Buffet Crampon flutes utilize the Cooper scale (see Albert Cooper) and have a reputation for accurate tuning. The 200 series flutes were of average construction quality and needed regular maintenance to play well. In the 1980s Boosey & Hawkes redesigned the Buffet Crampon flute as the 6000 series with improved key cups and stiffer keys. The 6000 series is generally regarded as mechanically superior to the 200 instruments.

200 Series[edit]

• 225 – Silver-plated, inline G, closed keys
• 227 – Silver-plated body, offset G closed keys, solid silver headjoint
• 228 – Silver-plated, offset G closed keys and in line open hole (French style)

Redesigned 6000 series[edit]

• 6010 – Silver-plated, inline G, closed keys
• 6020 – Silver-plated, offset G, split E, closed keys
• 6040 – Silver-plated, offset G, open hole (French style)
• 6050 – Silver-plated, inline G, split E, open hole

7000 series[edit]

Intermediate models with silver heads and plated bodies. Model sub-numbers are similar to the 6000 series as above.

Saxophone models[edit]

As early as 1866, Buffet Crampon was producing its first saxophones, 20 years after the invention of this instrument by the Belgian Adolphe Sax. They were the first to manufacture saxophones, besides those made by Adolphe Sax himself. Today, Buffet Crampon produces three series of saxophones: 100 Series, 400 Series and since 2013, the Senzo alto saxophone.

Soprano[edit]

• Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• Super Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 PRESTIGE (Copper, discontinued)

Alto[edit]

• 18–20
• Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• Super Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• Super Dynaction/S1 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 (Lacquer/Silver, Silver/Copper, discontinued)
• S2 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S3 PRESTIGE (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S3
• 400 Series (Lacquer/Antique matte)
• 100 Series (Student Model)
• Senzo copper (Lacquer/Silver)

Evette[edit]

• Masterpiece (Lacquer, discontinued)

Tenor[edit]

• 18–20
• Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• Super Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 PRESTIGE (Lacquer/Silver/Copper, discontinued)
• S2 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• 400 Series (Lacquer/Antique matte)
• 100 Series (Student Model)

Baritone[edit]

Buffet Crampon Clarinet Serial Numbers

• 18–20
• Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued )
• Super Dynaction (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)
• S1 (Lacquer/Silver, discontinued)

100 Series[edit]

These are beginner instruments made in China

• Series 100 alto saxophone, lacquer
• Series 100 tenor saxophone, lacquer

400 Series[edit]

These are intermediate models made in China

Evette Buffet Crampon Serial Numbers

• Series 400 alto saxophone, lacquer and matte
• Series 400 tenor saxophone, lacquer and matte
• Series 400 baritone saxophone, lacquer and matte

Senzo[edit]

This is their top model

• Senzo alto saxophone

References[edit]

1. ^'Comparing the Buffet Crampon R13 and E11 Clarinets: What Are the Differences?'. April 8, 2017.
2. ^'Jérôme Perrod appointed CEO of Buffet Group'(PDF) (Press release). Fondations Capitali. July 28, 2014. Archived from the original(PDF) on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
3. ^ ^abHales, Pete. 'Buffet Instrument Models'. Saxpics.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
4. ^Howard, Stephen. 'Review, Buffet 400 Alto Saxophone'. shwoodwinds.co.uk. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
5. ^Overton, Mark. 'The New Buffet Senzo...'saxophone.org/reviews/. saxophone.org. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
6. ^'Our Story - Buffet Crampon'. www.buffet-crampon.com. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

External links[edit]

• Jerome Perrod NAMM Oral History Program Interview (2015)