The ClarinetPages Forum

A lot of nice interesting details, Windsong, like the woven checkerboard cloth covered rubber insulation wires, the technology of the day. I see the factory wiring layout. Reminds me of when a ham radio operator does his wiring, a bit neater whereas this wiring was done to cost, quick assembly. The wires are all laid out plumb following case contour lines, enough to make a master electrician happy.

Then they used waxed woven cord instead of plastic zip ties. There was a technique to loop and extend it to make wiring harnesses, think it was described in the ARRL Handbook.

You're welcome, Jeabrams. Once in a while we pass through Edgewood on the way to Albuquerque, a 4 hour drive. There in Edgewood, you escape the sprawling madness that has become of Albuquerque. I remember when we moved to Gallup downturn of aerospace early 1990's, Albuquerque was a nice small city, 2 hours away.

Amarillo (NE), Lubbock (SE), Roswell (S) are all only 95 miles and 2 hours away. If we need to do special shopping, they are our go-to places.

There is another, a saxist who I think also plays clarinet on one of the forums from Santa Fe.

Glad to see Windsong that you found a source to A/C power your vintage tube radio. His price is really not bad considering. I would have expected maybe double that.

I would have probably resorted to my 1968 ARRL Handbook that I have squirreled away somewhere, read up on their section of power supplies and sample circuitry. I think I still have the 1956 one that belonged to my father squirreled away somewhere.

But finding sources for some of those components these days, since majority have gone solid state might be a harder find. I used to mail order stuff from B.G. Micro through their newspaper flyer back in the 1970's - 1980's, they are no more. And, remember Ohlson Electronics?

365 pF variable capacitors for broadcast band tuners were common as dirt in the 1960's and 1970's and less than a couple bucks from Radio Shack, Newark Electronics, and etc. Today they are $40 starting:

Amazon - 365 pF Variable Capacitor CCW Rotation


Although one can find a crystal earphone suitable for a crystal radio set for under $10.

That is a nice Pedler metal clarinet, @Jeabrams.

This year got my feet wet by buying a René Dumont (Paris) metal clarinet. I got it because it was clean with original case, barrel joint and a mouthpiece. Appears possibly to be a low mileage one. Needs pads replaced and a few other touches. This is my first metal one.

I read somewhere that the US military bands of the time pre- to WW2 used metal clarinets.

I have to agree with you, @Jeabrams. I still have my 1965 LeBlanc Vito Bb soprano clarinet that started me on my woodwind journey in grade school, been overhauled a couple times. Even though student clarinets today like it sell for under $50 including shipping and tax, it still plays. My keeping it is more of a sentimental thing.

Last May, I bought a 1940's G. Penzel (Mueller Germany) Pacemaker Grenadilla wood intermediate clarinet in clean condition for $54 to restore. Last January I bought a René Dumont (Paris) metal Bb soprano clarinet in clean condition for $66 to restore. Bought white leather clarinet pads for the restoration. Although some 80 years old, I consider having these fun.

Sorry to hear you ran into a case of missed identification. I really don't know much about the Buffets, aside from the R13 that I was issued with the 264th Army Band, Honolulu, Hawaii in the early 1970's.

Just like you I have been buying student instruments for next to nothing on eBay, clarinets and saxes for donating.

This past May I bought 2,
$80.95 total, a Buffet Prodige ebonite student clarinet. Interestingly, no markings, just the serial number. Was from a reputable music store. The brand new Buffet clarinet case was worth more than the clarinet, which appears to be a rental withdrawn, wear on the keys with some brassing showing through. Needs no servicing.
$36.81 total, a very low mileage almost like new Buffet Evette ebonite clarinet with full gilded markings in a case like new case from a vintage knick-knacks store.

I gather both these are probably Chinese stencils, but figure they are good as Buffet makes sure they are decent.

Haven't tested them yet. Donated an almost like new Selmer CL300 student clarinet needing no servicing, $107 a few weeks ago to a poor family for their daughter who entered junior high this year. Felt good about as a major on-line music store is selling its successor, the CL301 for $1,400.

Quote from: Windsong on September 01, 2026, 06:45:11 PMAah, yes.  I did much of that, too.  They were interesting. I almost majored in computer science.

I left aerospace on its downturn and returned to government, finished 28 years now pensioned. Never bought a new desktop PC, they were all clones from parts. Kept behind the curve rather than forward of it, which allowed me to buy motherboards and processors that were good but not on the bleeding edge.

In a way I am glad I never majored in computer science, because I got into technology that was beyond the average IT guy. In facilities management I got into building automation systems that monitor and control environmental systems for buildings, direct digital control (DDC for short).

Plus I learned something. If you want something sell it to your boss first.

When CD-ROM burners dropped in price from over $1,000 to half that in the early 1990's, I mentioned a source to my boss. He was interested, told me to order one for him and the deputy, and while you are at it, get one for yourself.

Because our facility management department was funded differently than the other offices in our US Public Service (USPHS) area office on the Navajo Reservation (we were the HMO - Health Maintenance Organization, 6,000 employees for 180,000 Native Americans, 8 hospital service units with outlying clinics), the Information Technology (IT) Department would not order our PC's.

I was tasked with that responsibility. This is why we had the faster and better computers, printers, scanners, etc. than all the others had, yet competitively purchased. Our morale was high. We were understaffed but got a lot of things done without all the red tape that the Defense Department had. Then the USPHS was perhaps the best kept secret.

When privatization hit in 2000 under Public Law 93-638 Indian Self-Determination, where the tribe being served can prove to Congress that they have the management in place, after a 2 year transitional period the federal employees are laid off and given the option to work for the tribe. The tribe receives a block grant from the government to run that program. Our facilities management department was the first to be privatized.

I wanted to keep my federal retirement, so I left and returned to and finished out with the Defense Department.

Quote from: Windsong on August 22, 2026, 07:18:51 PMAs did I to some degree, starting with the Timex Sinclair in the late 70s. [...]

I had one of those in 1981. I modified it by purchasing aftermarket TS1000 key top labels, modified a new parts keyboard, did the cut-outs and installed it in a slant aluminum keyboard case topped off with the new key labels. Removed the motherboard from the TS-1000 case, with stand-offs mounted it inside the new. Had the optional 16kb memory module. Experimented with Z80 machine code poked into a BASIC REM statement.

Helped me better understand computer hardware. I was doing scientific test software for Douglas Aircraft's Structural Test Laboratory. This was systems software on mini-computers. Used FORTRAN-77 for most then jumped to IBM-360J assembler for the high speed stuff. I was a real "Dilbert", LOL, I guess we both have "The Knack". 😁

Quote from: Windsong on August 22, 2026, 07:18:51 PM

Quote from: ghostler on August 20, 2026, 09:53:48 PMHave collected enough project woodwinds to keep me busy for a while, 9 clarinets and 3 saxes.

That does not sound like a problem yet, but it's sneaky...

Yes, sneaky. I miscounted - 12 clarinets. 🤣

Last May on eBay for $81 total, I bought a Buffet Evette Prodige Bb soprano clarinet from a music store in Tulsa. Needs no servicing, has no engravings except the serial number stamp. Doing a little research appears that this stencil had gild painted markings instead of filled engraved markings, possibly a rental. After multiple hands and servicing, the gilding wore off.

It was in was a new Buffet Crampon quality case, easily worth more than what I paid for.

Back in the mid 1980's, an Army Reserve Band issued me a brand new still in the plastic Selmer Bundy Bb soprano clarinet. It played extremely well in tune, better than the Buffet Crampon R13 Grenadilla wood pro clarinet I was issued with the 264th Army Band, Honolulu, Hawaii in the early 1970's.

So, I have a heart for Bundy's. Bought a used Selmer 1400 including case in extremely clean condition from an on-line eBay boutique store for $73.39 total last September.

Although discontinued, I found that various music stores are selling the same new for $1,300 - $1,400. I gather that it was a follow-on to the discontinued Bundy's. I am a happy camper with my purchase.

I am not familiar with the current crop of synthetic reeds. Back about 10 years ago, I was experimentally using Bari synthetic on my 1952ish LeBlanc Beaugnier Vito low-Bb bari sax, busking outdoors next to a Salvation Army donation kettle stand at store entrances. It was OK, not quite like cane but didn't have to soak it here in Clovis, NM. Played outside for 20 hours a week, 4 hours a day for 4 weeks doing a capella traditional Christmas carols. Used the same reed for a couple Christmas seasons.

There is an interesting thread on Legere synthetics:

SOTW: Legere synthetic reeds not lasting

Our Clovis (NM) Community Band clarinet players last Spring said they are using Legere synthetics, I think French cut, said they liked them as they play without conditioning and warm-up. Our first rehearsal for the Fall was last Monday. Haven't had a chance to follow up.

Got no experience with the other brands yet. About 4 years ago, I made a small error (less than $5), bought a no-name black alto sax reed on eBay from a seller from the Orient. It was a total waste of money, probably the wrong type of plastic.

Until I find the "magic reed", I've been buying boxes of cane.

Quote from: 350 Rocket on August 26, 2026, 06:41:52 PMRegrettably, I didn't see this while the auction was live, but take a look at this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/188783579891 Early Vito Reso-Tone brochure from 1962 or 1963, showing the original logo and listing out the available models - plus a comparison against "Brand B. R." (gee, I wonder what that could be?).

Thanks for pointing it out. I looked over its photos. That shown has slightly different engravings than my 1965 Vito. "B.R." is Bundy Resonite? Buescher? Buffet? Boosey? Bull Rush? Obviously appears made up.

In contracting language such a brochure received in a solicitation or unsolicited would be called "puffery".
Cambridge Dictionary: Puffery

Seems your radio would be a candidate for a custom power supply to eliminate the batteries. Come to think of it, there are sealed lead acid batteries, SLA's in 4.5 Volts. They vary in size, I think some are used in older emergency lighting systems and possibly battery backed emergency power systems for small computer equipment, routers, etc. However SLA's need recharging.

Love the large variable capacitors for tuning and hand wound coils for the frequency bands. Plus, the larger tubes of the 1940's - early 1950's?

I enjoyed messing with the stuff when younger. Even saved money by purchasing parts and software from the Xerox Computer Surplus Center back in the 1980's to make my pre-IBM XT computers. Built a Xerox 16/8 from parts. Had a Zilog Z80 8-bit CPU and a 16-bit 80186 (pre-runner of the 80286 "AT" CPU) processor on its expansion chassis. Had a version of Wordstar 3.0 for 8 bit CP/M computers.

Ran 3 OS's - CP/M-80, 16 bit CP/M-86, and generic MS-DOS 2.0. Patched the BIOS, partition and formatting programs to use another hard disk. Didn't want to spend the bucks on a 10 megabyte 360 cylinder 4 head Shutgart 5.25 in. HD. Bought a used 10 megabyte 720 cylinder 2 head Miniscribe HD, which required revising the software and firmware to run. They were hard coded for the Shutgart.

This was about the time that the IBM PC/AT was expanding in business offices. Alas, with advances in PC's and now building my own clones, ditched that earlier Xerox system I built. Now I wished I kept it.

Have collected enough project woodwinds to keep me busy for a while, 9 clarinets and 3 saxes.

Welcome to the forum, Douglas. It sounds like you have a winner of a clarinet nicely restored by Billy Cole. Yes, even my clarinet chops are out of whack. Clarinet takes a bit more skill and conditioning (practice, practice, practice) in embouchure than sax does. (I have all - SATB. Besides Bb soprano also have an Eb sopranino clarinet.)

Here, we aren't quite as rich on sax so I play tenor in the community band. I'm probably best known for busking a capella copyright expired traditional Christmas caroles next to a Salvation Army Christmas donation kettle during the season since 2014. Have had my photo taken in the local paper a number of times. A little less active now that I am 72.

Anyway, again welcome to the forum and hope to hear more from you.

-- George

Those are certainly beautiful, one a Bb and the other a bit longer appears to be an A. Interesting that the joint, main body, instead of in 2 parts is made as one. It is also unusual in that it has the low Eb key. This key I have seen on some Bb Bass Clarinets and some Eb Alto Clarinets, but not on Bb and A Soprano Clarinets. There is not much I can contribute as this is the first time I have seen them.

Having both sizes handy would help one to play music keyed for either, for example in a symphony orchestra. The lyre appears to be a part of the set as it is placed in a holder slot. Most clarinets, the lyre would fit on the tenon ring between upper and lower joints. This one, only logical place would be on the lower tenon ring before the bell. Are they in playable condition?

Regarding model numbers, back in the early 1970's I was issued a Buffet Crampon R13 Grenadilla wood pro clarinet while with the 264th Army Band, Honolulu, Hawaii. I think yours may predate the R13.

We lost a valuable reference source when the Clarinet Perfection blog disappeared with Woodwind Forum closing forever yesterday.

This page gives some guidance although sparse:
Buffet Identification Guide

Some of the things mentioned about identifying markings may give a clue to yours. My gut level feeling that yours may predate any of the aforementioned. It seems yours is indeed unique.

I could not help but notice the following Post #6:
https://cafesaxophone.com/threads/goodbye-woodwind-forum-aka-going-dark.42574/#post-636910

Quote from: Stocker Today at 11:11 AMIf I may, a shameless plug for the ClarinetPages forum forum to replace that aspect of WoodwindForum.

Thanks, Stocker, good pitch for this forum. Just curious, but could that be one of you? 😁

The WF is now closed as of today.