Buffet-Crampon Albert System Clarinet: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This clarinet was made by Buffet-Crampon & Cie. In Paris, France in 1888. It is an Albert System clarinet in C, serial #662C, made of grenadilla with German silver keys and rings. This clarinet is stamped:

William H. Cundy was a music publishing and woodwind instrument retailing business in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm started in 1855 and by 1900 became Bettony-Cundy as Harry Bettoney (1867-1953) became manager of the development and expansion of the Cundy-Bettoney instrument company. W. H. Cundy retired from the business in 1907.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1888
• maker: Buffet-Crampon & Cie.
• Object Name: clarinet
• Physical Description: grenadilla (overall material)
• Physical Description: German silver (overall material)
• Measurements: cap: 2 11/16 in x 1 3/16 in; 6.82625 cm x 3.01625 cm
• Measurements: mouthpiece: 3 9/16 in x 1 3/8 in; 9.04875 cm x 3.4925 cm
• Measurements: clarinet: 17 in x 2 1/4 in; 43.18 cm x 5.715 cm
• Measurements: bell: 3 1/2 in x 3 in; 8.89 cm x 7.62 cm
• Measurements: overall: 20 in x 3 in; 50.8 cm x 7.62 cm
• place made: France: Île-de-France, Paris
• ID Number: 1997.0260.01
• accession number: 1997.0260
• catalog number: 1997.0260.01
• Credit Line: Gift of Dr. Stephen H. King
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.