Jeffrey and Kohlert

[Fotogravinnetje]

Hi all,
Almost 20 years ago I took clarinet lessons for about 1,5 years, but I had to quit and give the clarinet back. Then many years went by but it never was the right time or right place to start playing again. Until 3 months ago. For only 50 euros I bought a secondhand clarinet, a Kohlert from Winnenden, serial number 101187. It rekindled my love for playing clarinet, so it was money well spend. But I found out it's extremely hard to intonate correctly and over all not the easiest instrument to play. And I felt it needed some maintenance. So I bought another secondhand clarinet. This time one that had been recently serviced, a Jeffrey, for 150 euros, so about the price I would be paying for the service on the other one. I read about the brand that it is in fact a Leblanc and usually is in tune. It's much easier to play than the Kohlert and it's indeed much better in tune, so I'm happy I bought it. The serial number on the Jeffrey is 8383.
Can anyone shed some light on the age of both instruments. From what I found the Kohlert is probably from '55-'60, the Jeffrey about '49-'50. Could that be correct? Or can you date them more exactly? Any other nice to know info would be appreciated too

[Windsong]

The Jeffrey is indeed a LeBlanc.  It has curious keywork, and I had one for several years that I loved.  Mechanically, it was excellent, and curious, with the kidney bean touch points for the trills.  Probably an intermediate level horn, but made at a time (1950s) when even intermediate offerings were quite good.

[350 Rocket]

The Kohlert is probably from the late 1970s or early 1980s. There is little information about that period of Kohlert history, but the best estimate I've seen is that serial number 100000 was reached around 1977.

I thought the Jeffrey line was newer (i.e. 1960s) but they're so uncommon I rarely hear of them. Does it have the original case? If so, the style of case may help narrow it down.

[Windsong]

Rocket:
Yes indeed; they were offered in three waves. 

The first one was Geoffroy, or some such, which was the Surname of Leon LeBlanc's wife, if I recall correctly.  It was intended as some sort of homage to her family.  These are highly regarded as the best of the lot.  There is one currently listed on ebay for a rather hefty sum, but it is quite nice.

I had the second wave's offering, where they "Americanized" the name in an attempt to appeal more to the US market, with a low serial number (under 1800?), which was by every account even better than my Noblet 45, and much more rigid, mechanically, but odd with the kidney bean-shaped trill touches.  They were hard to miss, and I will admit made me a faster player, because I took more chances with it.

I do not know much about the last wave, but presume they were resonite, like so much of the 60s student line.

[Fotogravinnetje]

Thanks for the reactions all!

I thought the Jeffrey line was newer (i.e. 1960s) but they're so uncommon I rarely hear of them. Does it have the original case? If so, the style of case may help narrow it down.

The Jeffrey came in this Leblanc case

[350 Rocket]

Since the barrel sits upright, but the case has conventional latches instead of rotary ones, I'd guess late 1950s, maybe very early 1960s.