Intonation summary: Excellent. I normally would be flatter than this with such a long barrel. Any flatness is due to my playing loudly for the test. This particular instrument is flatter on low A and mid-E because of a replaced tone hole. Update after testing # A30271: The newer model plays very similarly, only about 10 cents sharp on low B-flat and A. However this sharpness indicates that the 1973 model did not yet have poly-cylindrical bore technology. This clarinet is most appropriate for: Intermediate to advanced musicians.
Oct09: Serial #45651. From the late 1960's or early 70's. Sept2010: Serial # B5123, perhaps from 1980.Sept2011: # 34061, for Fernando.Mid-2010, # A30271, made in 1973. Has the new style top trill key with hump (as in the picture above). This has the diamond shaped logo.
All other known Leblanc models serial number and date of manufacture are noted below including the Leblanc Paris Clarinet series of fine instruments. The following information and article is presented here drawn from information furnished by The Bis Key Chronicles, The Woodwind Forum, and woodwindNYC. A place for sharing information about clarinets, especially vintage models. Search this site. For serial numbers for models 27, 40 and 45, see the Noblet 27 page. More serial number information is found on the Noblet N page.
August 2010, # 36074, probably from 1963, has straight right trill keys, without the bump. 2010, # B5123, from 1980. Bump on top trill key, TV screen shaped logo. Old pinned crack on LH joint stabilized and made less visible. Dec-2010, # 91735, 1970, TV screen shaped logo. Straight right top trill key.
Wood and keys in great condition. Dec-2010, # B42133, 1984, TV screen shaped logo. Bump/hump on the top trill key. Jan-2011, # A71439, 1977, TV screen shaped logo. Bump/hump on the top trill key. Jun-2011, # 55216, TV logo, straight top trill key.
Slight repair to middle tenon. 4 state medals in case from Indiana! Sent to Bill who plays in NY and FL. Feb2012, # 26768, TV logo, from early 1960s.
Extremely small tenon chipping repaired, two small places on the top of the LH joint.These are shown in the “before” pictures. Keys in great condition. This has 14.8mm bore at the top, and 14.75 at the bottom of the LH joint. Great intonation and response. 6Mar2012, # B77550, TV logo, from the late 1980s.
No repairs at all for tenon chipping. Bump in top trill key. There is some case damage to the keys, but no wear marks. 14.6mm bore at top and bottom.
Excellent intonation!. 25Sept2012, # A47260, TV-screen logo, 14.8mm bore at top and bottom. Excellent wood. Light chipping fixed on the LH joint.
No wear marks on the keys. 23Nov2012, # 35831, perhaps from 1963, TV-screen logo. Some wear spots beinging to show on keys.
Only one small chip on the top tenon of the LH joint was filled and stabilized. 10Dec2012, # A33609, perhaps from 1973. There was a deep chip broken from the lower tenon, 1/2 inch long, which I fixed by splicing in a piece from another clarinet. There was a very minor chip on the upper LH tenon. There was a hairline crack in the bell. And the barrel with this is the right bore and length, but does not appear to be a Noblet barrel. The two best lists of Noblet serial numbers I have found do not include the N model.
I use the 40 27 models numbers. I have not been able to find a list of serial numbers that specifically lists the N model, unless the N model is the same as these numbered models: 1964 9 1965 9 1966 9 1967 9 1968 9 1969 9 1970 0 1971 A101 A A11101 A A16228 A A33701 A A44833 A A57321 A A66598 A A76350 A A87895 A A95000 B B10310 B B10701 B B25891 B B28147 B 1986.
(1) I pulled in a page that wasn’t converted – Polishing Keys at Home. This is located in the “Technical Info”, “Instrument Care” submenu. I wrote this article years ago in June 2009. I plan on making a short video of how to do this and posting it. So stay tuned for that video for a demonstration of that. They key to polishing keys at home is “less is more” One cleaning the black gunk that you’ll see can get on the pads if you use even a bit too much polishing paste. But read the article more for more information.
2 Donations Apparently my donation page doesn’t work 100%. It seems to work for me so I’m wondering it the problem is browser based. So I’m working on that too. Welcome and please wait as items get moved over to the new ClarinetPerfection.com For your enjoyment, you can watch this over and over again until everything is completed. ClarinetPerfection.com was originated back in 1996 as a desire to track information that I received from Leblanc USA about one of my clarinets, my Normandy 4 that I bought from Mr. Herb Couf, Royal Music back in 1978.
In 1996 I contacted Leblanc USA, after hours, and a nice lady faxed me a serial number list that they had. The list was not in their computers thus no one else was given this list. So I published it on the new website for everyone to have. Then I went on a search for serial number lists of my other clarinets, and the website grew from there. The website has been totally paid out of pocket since it’s inception.
I should have added Google Ads, or a Paypal button but never got to that level. Late in 2016 my Host company against raised my rates, and this time I balked, and did not resign, and thus found a new home for it here. Please wait a while as i move the data over to the new format. I am always collecting new information, and wouldn’t mind a donation here or there to help pay for some expenses (sooner or later I’ll add a Paypal button). I am also collection alto and tenor Saxophone tonehole diameters for the entire horn for another project. Those can be emailed to [email protected] Find Us. If a mouthpiece review or instrument review is wanted, I used to do all this out of my own pocket (expensive).
But I will take donations (or loaners), Then when something is purchased with the donations, and then tested, I'll raffle it of for free or donate it to a local school or student (you do have to be registered on my site for any raffle). A few dollars here or there allows me to pay for web related items (it's all been paid for by me since 1996ish). Any amount is welcomed. Current Donations = $30.00 Projected Item - some mpc? (please email for ideas).