The keywork for the Buffet's is made at Schreiber in Germany.From a post on woodwind.org by Javier Garcia.La Couture-Boussey, inNormandy, nord of Paris, a place linked to music instruments making. As'Memoire d'Ebone', page 73: 'The manufacture of calrinets began at LaCouture-Boussey toward the end of the eighteenth century, and among theearliest to work in the production of this instrument were certainlymembers of the Buffet family, whose presence in the village has beendocumented at least as far back as 1772.' 1955 print ad. First of all, 'Evette & Schaeffer' model clarinets are not the sameas 'Evettes.' When this designation was used, the Evette was Buffet'sstudent/low-end intermediate wood instrument. The Evette & Schaeffermodel was Buffet's high-end intermediate model. (Evette and Schaefferwere two partners who purchased the Buffet company in the early part ofthe 20th century but retained the Buffet name.) See the clarinetperfection link below: Buffet factory was bought in 1885 by two men, whose last names were Evette and Schaeffer.

• Buffet Crampon Clarinet Value
• Buffet R13 Clarinet Used

Buffet Crampon R13 Professional Bb Clarinet with Silver-Plated Keys. $2,599 + $19.99 Shipping. Make an Offer. Certified Pre-Owned Buffet Crampon Wooden Bb Professional Clarinet - Model R13. $2,999 + $3.99 Shipping. Make an Offer. Newer Buffet Crampon R13 Bb clarinet for sale! Prestige barrel!

From Annette: Their complete names: Paul Evette and Ernest Schaeffer.Both models appear to have been around for a long time. I have anearly Evette & Schaeffer whose keywork is quite similar in style tothe keywork on a professional Buffet instrument from 1936 that a friendof mine owns. Buffet made the model until 1981 or 82 (with significantdesign changes over the years) when they changed the designation to theE13.

Buffet Crampon Clarinet Value

Buffet R13 Clarinet Used

• Buffet Clarinets Note: A preceeding F in the serial number indicates a clarinet made for the European market (A=442, A=444).
• Buffet Crampon BC1131G50 R13 Green Line Series Bb Clarinet. 5 available from $2,249.99; Buffet Crampon R-13 Professional A Clarinet w/ Nickel-Plated Keys. 5 available from $2,100; Buffet Crampon BC123150 R13 Series A Clarinet. 5 available from $2,200; Buffet Crampon BC2539-2-0 Premium Student Bb Clarinet.

All the evidence I have seen indicates that these instruments werealways made in the main Buffet factory. The last series was theK-series. It began around 1953 according to the Boosey & Hawkes website.As far as I have been able to determine, the (wooden) Evette modeldates back about as far as the E&S and these instruments were alsomade until 1982 - in France (possibly not all at the main Buffetfactory and possibly not all by Buffet) until the late 70's, then inGermany until 1982 when they were renamed the E11.

The last (wooden)Evette series was the D-series which began in 1963, according to theB&H site.In short, the evidence I have seen suggests the following 'equivalences':Plastic Evette became the B12.Wooden Evette became the E11.Evette Master Model became the E12.Evette & Schaeffer became the E13.1960 ad. There was also an Evette & Schaeffer Master Model.

There is alotof folk lore surrounding these clarinets as Buffet does not disclosemuch information about them these days. One popular tale is that theE&S Master Models (another version involves the Evette MasterModels) were actually R13's that had failed their final inspectionbecause of some minor imperfection such as a blemish in plating orunattractive wood. However, there are some subtle but definitedifferences between the E&S Master Model and R13's from the sametime period. (I have a couple of each.) On the E&S, the bell is alittle longer and the stock barrel a little shorter. Furthermore, thereare some differences in the keywork. The most notable is the sliver keyon the lower joint.

On the E&S, the distance between the two postsfor this key is several millimeters longer than the R13. Also there aredifferences in the design of the lower joint where the right-handcluster of keys is located. To my eyes, the master model is much morenearly identical to the 'standard' E&S (I don't see any difference)than it is to the R13.See this page on Buffet history at.

This page also has a terrific list of early serial numbers.Also from that page, I am copying Buffet's own factory serial number list. (However this is incomplete compared to the information at clarinetperfection.).

This is a superb condition, professional model Buffet-Crampon R13 series Bb clarinet, serial number 340219.This instrument shows no previous cracks or repairs, no chips to the wood. It features nickel plated keywork, which shows minimal finish wear from past use. It has been padded with cork pads in the top joint and skin pads in the bottom, and Audrey replaced all of the felt and cork work with better synthetic material. Sonically, this R13 plays with a very colorful sound and a very vibrant character. It is free blowing, yet keeps a strong focus.