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Author Topic: Lefebre Artiste  (Read 8455 times)

Offline Airflyte

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Lefebre Artiste
« on: April 03, 2013, 06:55:47 PM »
Greetings to all.
A couple of years ago, I purchased a Lefebre Artiste from a popular online auction site. The clarinet arrived at my doorstep neatly packed in a shoe box.
     Like a child on Christmas morning, I tore through the wrapping to discover the instrument consisted of mixed materials - I figured it was a mutt.
      After joining this forum, I dug this clarinet out of storage and looked closer at it.
The bell is plastic and is engraved Lefebre Artiste

The barrel is plastic and has \"France\" engraved (with quotation marks).

The lower joint is wood and has three markings - \"France\" (with quotation marks) same letter type as on barrel, The letter B and directly underneath, LP, lastly a marking of the number 40.

      The upper joint is also wood and has \"France\" (with quotation marks) and the letter B and directly underneath, LP.

       I now wonder if the clarinet is not a mutt and just rather made from different materials from the same maker. The upper and lower joints along with the barrel have \"France\" stamped and with all the same type setting (font).
       The lower joint also has the \"cut outs\" under some of the keys that Phil says is a positive trait.

If anyone can verify that some French stencils were manufactured with mixed materials, it would be greatly appreciated.

-TBBPP
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Offline DaveLeBlanc

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2013, 01:48:18 PM »
I have a weymann varsity clarinet with wooden body but hard rubber bell...
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David Watson of the original The Clarinet Pages
Irvine, California, United States

Offline Airflyte

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2013, 03:35:28 PM »
Quote from: \'DaveLeBlanc\' pid=\'769\' dateline=\'1365194898\'

I have a weymann varsity clarinet with wooden body but hard rubber bell...


Dave, I just Googled \"weymann varsity clarinet\" and discovered your . . ah, comprehesive collection of instruments. I\'m now inspired to share a list of my own!
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Offline Skyfacer

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2013, 03:35:44 PM »
LP means low pitch, probably 438 or thereabouts
« Last Edit: April 07, 2013, 01:39:16 PM by Skyfacer »
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The Clarinet is not a Horn.
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Offline DaveLeBlanc

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2013, 08:23:03 PM »
Quote from: \'TheBlueBeamPolkaProject\' pid=\'770\' dateline=\'1365201328\'

Quote from: \'DaveLeBlanc\' pid=\'769\' dateline=\'1365194898\'

I have a weymann varsity clarinet with wooden body but hard rubber bell...


Dave, I just Googled \"weymann varsity clarinet\" and discovered your . . ah, comprehesive collection of instruments. I\'m now inspired to share a list of my own!


I\'m glad you found my list!  I would love to see your collection!
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David Watson of the original The Clarinet Pages
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Offline Skyfacer

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2013, 09:39:50 PM »
Correction * Low Pitch is 438 or thereabouts.
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The Clarinet is not a Horn.
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Offline Airflyte

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2013, 06:52:49 AM »
I\'m glad you found my list!  I would love to see your collection!
[/quote]

Dave,I have 2 more sopranos on the way.  I can make a list after I get them.

I\'m going to have to sell some other stuff to help fund my old clarinet addiction!
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Offline Airflyte

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2013, 06:06:03 PM »
OK, here\'s my list,

19?? Pruefer Silver Throat - 54564

19?? Selmer USA 103 - 295733

19?? Champion Hard Rubber - 32329

19?? Lefebre Artiste French Stencil - 40

1949 Conn 424N - 332915 - Refurbished by Jeremy (the vintage clarinet doctor)

1949 Conn 424N - 337079 - just arrived today!

1956 Conn 80N Victor - 575139

1927 Buescher True Tone Series IV Alto sax w/ \'01\' series neck -233236

2010 Xaphoon \"Pocket Sax\"

I think I\'m good for now but would not pass up a nice old Pan American clarinet!
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Offline DaveLeBlanc

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2013, 05:04:31 PM »
wow i am thoroughly impressed!
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David Watson of the original The Clarinet Pages
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Offline philpedler

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2013, 06:44:55 AM »
It looks like no one has directly answered the original question, but you gave examples answering the question: Yes, there were French Stencils that were made with hard rubber or plastic bells and barrels, with wooden keyed joints. So yours is likely to have been made with that combination.
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Offline Airflyte

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2013, 06:27:10 PM »
Quote from: \'philpedler\' pid=\'836\' dateline=\'1366638295\'

It looks like no one has directly answered the original question, but you gave examples answering the question: Yes, there were French Stencils that were made with hard rubber or plastic bells and barrels, with wooden keyed joints. So yours is likely to have been made with that combination.


Thank you Phil for confirming the use of different materials used by some makers.
The bell seems somewhat heavy so maybe it\'s hard rubber with a plastic look to it.
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Offline DaveLeBlanc

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2013, 08:15:59 PM »
does anybody know why?  I guess it would save money because finding pieces of good wood in a bell size is harder, but i didnt think that clarinet manufacturers were THAT poor...
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David Watson of the original The Clarinet Pages
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Offline Airflyte

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2013, 07:09:18 PM »
Quote from: \'DaveLeBlanc\' pid=\'840\' dateline=\'1366686959\'
does anybody know why?  I guess it would save money because finding pieces of good wood in a bell size is harder, but i didnt think that clarinet manufacturers were THAT poor...

Agreed, Dave - It seems that cost savings has been around for a long time!
I know in today\'s manufacturing environment, it\'s the one thing that keeps the shop lights on and people on the payroll.

On the other hand, if something is difficult to do we all know it\'s actually worth doing.
« Last Edit: April 24, 2013, 05:07:04 AM by TheBlueBeamPolkaProject »
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Offline DaveLeBlanc

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2013, 05:57:17 PM »
well said!
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David Watson of the original The Clarinet Pages
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Offline philpedler

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RE: Lefebre Artiste
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2013, 02:17:40 PM »
Clarinet bells are expensive to make, requiring a wider hunk of wood. And they are the most frequent part to crack. So it makes great sense to use a different material for the bell.

That heavy bell is certainly hard rubber.
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