The 'Official' ClarinetPages Vito Reso-Tone thread.

[mechanic]

Who is up for a unicorn hunt?  Here are 2 excerpts from the same article/blog from the New School of Music.  Not only does it introduce the unicorn, but dates in it seem to contradict each other.

Vito clarinets are named after Vito Pascucci, who co-founded the G. Leblanc Corporation in Kenosha Wisconsin after World War II. Vito was the instrument repair man for Glenn Miller.The Vito clarinet started out as a metal clarinet, but the plastic clarinet was more popular because it was less expensive. Leblanc started producing plastic Vito clarinets in the 1950s.

In 1960, the brand Vito was created with a complete line of composite student clarinets.  In 1961, the Positive Radial Alignment Guide (P.R.A.G.), which is still used today was patented to help beginning clarinet students properly assemble the top and bottom joints of their instruments.

http://newschoolofmusic.com/about/blog/index.php?published-max=2013-04-25T14%3A14%3A00.002-07%3A00

Know any 65 year old music stores that sold band instruments and still have sales receipts from day 1? 

[Airflyte]

Has anyone here ever seen a metal VITO clarinet ???  I haven't.

I assumed all the 1950's Reso-Tones were mostly Normandys. I'm hoping to find solid data on the first year of Vito clarinets.

As far as P.R.A.G. goes, it seems only the newer Vitos have it! 

Thanks for posting the links Mechanic.

[Windsong]

I suspect Vitos and Normandies were the same horn, and I would also not be surprised to learn that they were made on the same assembly line. 
That said, does anyone know if the serial numbers are co-mingled, or are they separate?

[mechanic]

Has anyone here ever seen a metal VITO clarinet ???  I haven't.

I assumed all the 1950's Reso-Tones were mostly Normandys. I'm hoping to find solid data on the first year of Vito clarinets.

As far as P.R.A.G. goes, it seems only the newer Vitos have it! 

Thanks for posting the links Mechanic.

Found an add from 1947 for metal Noblets from G. Leblanc Co. (American Division) Kenosha Wi.  These are most likely what is being referred to as a metal Vito.  I've be watching the metal clarinets for a few years now, and have never seen a Vito.  Most likely a case of "if it came from Kenosha, it must be a Vito".  Probably a misinformation campaign from the Buffet Mafia.  All the French made wood Leblancs and Noblets also passed through Kenosha.  The original purpose for the American division was to take apart, acclimate, reassemble to Leblanc specs and regulate all the clarinets coming across the ocean.  Your new Leblanc was to play perfect out of the box.

The P.R.A.G. is another interesting bit.  The Conn-Selmer website says 1961 for the patent.  Lot's of sites say 1961 for the patent.  The patent (#5,000,072) however, says it was filed April 10, 1990 and approved March 19, 1991.  (Any patent attorneys out there?  If a patent gets renewed does it get a new date and number?)  Interesting bit, the next patent in line # 5,000,073 is for a Hite mouthpiece and approved the same day.  But I digress, 1991 patent could be why we've only seen them on newer Vitos.  Unfortunately that shoots to hell my theory about the repeat serial numbers coinciding with the different logo's.  The only P.R.A.G I've run across was serial number D32921.  I figured 1983 because of the oval Vito logo.  Post patent would make it a 1997 and by my theory would have the lyre logo. 

As for a launch date, the Conn-Selmer website says 1960.  The Leblanc Bell (Spring/Summer 1996) gives a history of the company and talks about the ever growing school market in the 50's, then the Vito line, comprising a range from soprano to contrabass was born, then construction of the factory in 1951 with expansion in 1953, 1960 and 1966.  Bad editing, jumbled order of events, or is the Conn-Selmer website wrong?

Leon Pascucci (son of Vito, godson of Leon Leblanc) currently resides in the greater Los Angeles area.  Maybe the only way to get the answers will be to have someone camp out in his front yard and question him.  Any L.A. members got some spare time?

[Airflyte]

The average price for last 5 plastic Vitos on shopgoodwill was $ 38.44.

One was V40 that sold higher ($61.00) than the others so the results are bit on the high side. Just another market update!

Anyone here ever play a V40 ??? 

[dr_bob_k]

I have a VITO Resotone (Resonite?) one-piece (+neck, bell, mouthpiece) alto clarinet  that has a very sweet tone.   I don't know about the intonation.   the serial # is (from memory) 5015, which doesn't correspond to a Vito  on any of the web pages I've looked at.  I'll be posting some pictures soon because I'll be putting it up for sale (Hite mouthpiece, nice strap and my home-made stand).

[Airflyte]

The average price for last 3 plastic Vitos on shopgoodwill was $ 26.68.

Just a market update - they're getting cheaper!

[JenF]

Hello
I am new to the forum and found this thread while trying to research a Clarinet I just bought.

Lots of great information here 😊

I have a White Vito Claritone serial 1528.

It's in need of an overhaul which I have arranged to be done. I know it will cost more than its worth but I love it's uniqueness.

Reading everyone's posts it sounds like there have been many models of Vito's.

I'm guessing mine maybe 60s or 70s. What's everyone's thoughts.

Has anyone else come across one of these.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Jen

[Airflyte]

Welcome to the forum, Jen.

Another forum member here (bbrandha) has a white Clari-Tone with a 4 digit serial number with gold plated key work. Her post is #7 on the first page of this thread.

I think your copy will be an early one (early 60's)  Does it have the gold plated keys?  Is it heavier than a "normal" Vito?

[bbrandha]

I just got a blue Dazzler, serial # E04161. Now I have red, white, and blue. My red one is a B serial.

The differences I can notice are that the blue one has black tone holes and a metal post insert to help line up the 2 halves. I do not have the white here to compare.

The red should be from 1974 and the blue from 1983. Both have original mouthpieces. I hope the blue mouthpiece is better than the red one. It is unplayable.

[Airflyte]

Thanks Windsong. Yes, from Reso-Tone to Clari-Tone and then back to Reso-Tone!
I can see the advertising team having a good time with this.

Curious, the waffling, innit?
Typically, this would be seen as a bad advertising technique, as folks are easily confused, myself included.
It does cause a person to wonder just what they were up to--if they even knew, themselves.

Nevertheless, these early instruments, made of "new" materials, should be worth more than the common, newer stock (whether branded Vito or Normandy) as they pioneered the mainstream market in the USA, and allowed modest budgets to enjoy music deemed off-limits prior.

I saw reference to a lawsuit between Leblanc and Selmer concerning the reso-tone trademark.  Found this from 1962.
http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/thetmr53&div=45

Could explain the waffling between clari-tone and reso-tone.

You know what?  I'm starting to wonder if the folks at Bundy actually used "Resotone" . I found this clarinet on shopgoodwill - it appears to be a Bundy stencil https://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions/Lyons-Chicago-Resotome-Clarinet-with-Case-39173379.html - (I'm only using the keywork as my indicator). The bell clearly is marked Resotone under the Lyon's logo. Interesting.

[DaveLeBlanc]

Thanks Windsong. Yes, from Reso-Tone to Clari-Tone and then back to Reso-Tone!
I can see the advertising team having a good time with this.

Curious, the waffling, innit?
Typically, this would be seen as a bad advertising technique, as folks are easily confused, myself included.
It does cause a person to wonder just what they were up to--if they even knew, themselves.

Nevertheless, these early instruments, made of "new" materials, should be worth more than the common, newer stock (whether branded Vito or Normandy) as they pioneered the mainstream market in the USA, and allowed modest budgets to enjoy music deemed off-limits prior.

I saw reference to a lawsuit between Leblanc and Selmer concerning the reso-tone trademark.  Found this from 1962.
http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/thetmr53&div=45

Could explain the waffling between clari-tone and reso-tone.

You know what?  I'm starting to wonder if the folks at Bundy actually used "Resotone" . I found this clarinet on shopgoodwill - it appears to be a Bundy stencil https://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions/Lyons-Chicago-Resotome-Clarinet-with-Case-39173379.html - (I'm only using the keywork as my indicator). The bell clearly is marked Resotone under the Lyon's logo. Interesting.

Don't Bundys have a more right-angular throat G# key? Or at least, that's how many of the Bundys and Selmer USA's I've come across had.

[Windsong]

Mechanic,
I suspect that the below listed clarinet is the clever logo you mention, used from 1984-2000?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/332229234837?ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F0%252Fe11051.m43.l1465%252F7%253Feuid%253D6bbf78d54399499f9a93887731ab3acc%2526bu%253D43208945403%2526loc%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fulk%25252Fitm%25252F332229234837%2526sojTags%253Dbu%253Dbu%2526srcrot%253De11051.m43.l1465%2526rvr_id%253D0&ul_noapp=true

Here's a few more for the list.  These all have the ringless bell, which should make them all 7212's .
D32921  marked 7212, has the P.R.A.G (positive radial alignment guide) or alignment post to the rest of us
D26012 no model number, no P.R.A.G, coil spring on the register key
D20581 no model number, no P.R.A.G, coil spring on the register key
B27745 marked 7212, no P.R.A.G

Those 4 all have the oval Vito logo and are Reso-Tone 3

9408F  no model number, no P.R.A.G.  Oval logo, but only a Reso-Tone (no number) Also has the funky kidney bean keys

Any of the serial number lists I've been able to find all start with 1972 and the A prefix.  It's my understanding that Vito built the factory in Kenosha in 1951 and started cranking out plastic clarinets soon after, so there's close to 20 years of Vito's that will be tough to place.  I think my 9408F is in that category.  Somewhere I saw a timeline that showed the Claritone and Reso-Tone timelines.  They overlapped a number of years.  I'll keep poking around and see if I can find it again.
Picture 1 is the Reso-Tone 3 logo, pic 2 the Reso-Tone logo and pic 3 the Reso-Tone bean keys.

[Airflyte]

Mechanic,
I suspect that the below listed clarinet is the clever logo you mention, used from 1984-2000?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/332229234837?ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F0%252Fe11051.m43.l1465%252F7%253Feuid%253D6bbf78d54399499f9a93887731ab3acc%2526bu%253D43208945403%2526loc%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fulk%25252Fitm%25252F332229234837%2526sojTags%253Dbu%253Dbu%2526srcrot%253De11051.m43.l1465%2526rvr_id%253D0&ul_noapp=true

Here's a few more for the list.  These all have the ringless bell, which should make them all 7212's .
D32921  marked 7212, has the P.R.A.G (positive radial alignment guide) or alignment post to the rest of us
D26012 no model number, no P.R.A.G, coil spring on the register key
D20581 no model number, no P.R.A.G, coil spring on the register key
B27745 marked 7212, no P.R.A.G

Those 4 all have the oval Vito logo and are Reso-Tone 3

9408F  no model number, no P.R.A.G.  Oval logo, but only a Reso-Tone (no number) Also has the funky kidney bean keys

Any of the serial number lists I've been able to find all start with 1972 and the A prefix.  It's my understanding that Vito built the factory in Kenosha in 1951 and started cranking out plastic clarinets soon after, so there's close to 20 years of Vito's that will be tough to place.  I think my 9408F is in that category.  Somewhere I saw a timeline that showed the Claritone and Reso-Tone timelines.  They overlapped a number of years.  I'll keep poking around and see if I can find it again.
Picture 1 is the Reso-Tone 3 logo, pic 2 the Reso-Tone logo and pic 3 the Reso-Tone bean keys.

Now that's a cool Vito logo. I never looked close before - that it actually makes up the lyre.
Nice looking clarinet as well - and I really like that style of LeBlanc case. My Noblet 27 has one to call home (a green one) and those 2 latches will never fail under normal conditions. Very robust design.

[Windsong]

Yeah, I think it's their best logo.  Very clever...