Simple question. Or maybe not so much. Just picked up a Selmer clarinet, engraved "Centered Tone" with serial number N9690. Every serial number list (and other online references) imply that the N Series was the Balanced Tone model. This one has the hexagonal bush of the CT. The serial number lists don't indicate if the given number is the first or last of a given year (I assume first). So, if N8100 is the number for 1951, is this a (late '51) CT? Kinda confusing. Appreciate all info.
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What to Make of the Serial Number Lists
- Thread starter Bluesax
- Start date
Well if it has the emblem and the hexigon speaker bushing then it's a CT.
The serial number lists are what they are. The manufacturers lists are not 100% accurate, they were just keeping track of inventory, etc.
You SN would be a late BT SN which could have been the transition time to the CT.
Don't think of SN lists as "absolute" as there are always exceptions and sometimes manufacturers end up revising their SN lists.
Leblanc/Noblet was great at what appears to be making xxx numbers of clarinets per year, putting the unsold inventory on a shelf until some later year had the demand for them to pull them off the shelf, or just leave them there. At times, someone would just start a new serial number list in the middle of another SN list until someone thinks .. whopsee. You get a lot of abnormalities, thus one reason I always want to see pictures of the instrument so identify certain characteristics of it to understand what model it could be, although some models are very light evolutions of a previous one.
The serial number lists are what they are. The manufacturers lists are not 100% accurate, they were just keeping track of inventory, etc.
You SN would be a late BT SN which could have been the transition time to the CT.
Don't think of SN lists as "absolute" as there are always exceptions and sometimes manufacturers end up revising their SN lists.
Leblanc/Noblet was great at what appears to be making xxx numbers of clarinets per year, putting the unsold inventory on a shelf until some later year had the demand for them to pull them off the shelf, or just leave them there. At times, someone would just start a new serial number list in the middle of another SN list until someone thinks .. whopsee. You get a lot of abnormalities, thus one reason I always want to see pictures of the instrument so identify certain characteristics of it to understand what model it could be, although some models are very light evolutions of a previous one.
Steve,
Thanks for the reply. It's what I expected about dating Selmer clarinets. I'm familiar with other instrument serial lists that give the first serial number for a year and then the first for the next year (or time period) so it's possibly to kinda tell when something was made. But the haphazardness of the Selmer clarinet list makes if pretty difficult. So this is probably a transitional BT to CT. Makes sense to me. Thanks again
Thanks for the reply. It's what I expected about dating Selmer clarinets. I'm familiar with other instrument serial lists that give the first serial number for a year and then the first for the next year (or time period) so it's possibly to kinda tell when something was made. But the haphazardness of the Selmer clarinet list makes if pretty difficult. So this is probably a transitional BT to CT. Makes sense to me. Thanks again
Serial Number and Model Listing
I've created a very comprehensive chart with a lot of info at http://thesax.info/serials.htm. https://web.archive.org/web/20201022001855/https://www.thesax.info/serials/index.htm ======= Added July 9, 2014: I wanted to add this because I keep forgetting to mention this and I get a lot of...
www.woodwindforum.com
Really just a longer version of what Steve said.