LeBlanc Boehm System Clarinet, associted with Woody Herman: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This clarinet was made by LeBlanc in Paris, France around 1940 to 1950. It is a Boehm System clarinet in B-flat, serial #13620, made of grenadilla with German silver keys and rings. This clarinet is stamped:

There is a metal plate attached to the bell that is engraved:

Woodrow Charles “Woody” Herman (1913-1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1940-1950
• user: Herman, Woody
• maker: LeBlanc
• Object Name: clarinet
• Physical Description: grenadilla (overall material)
• Physical Description: German silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 23 1/4 in x 3 in; 59.055 cm x 7.62 cm
• Measurements: mouthpiece: 3 1/2 in x 1 1/8 in; 8.89 cm x 2.8575 cm
• Measurements: cap: 2 3/4 in x 1 1/8 in; 6.985 cm x 2.8575 cm
• Measurements: barrel: 2 7/16 in x 1 1/4 in; 6.19125 cm x 3.175 cm
• Measurements: upper joint: 8 7/8 in x 1 3/4 in; 22.5425 cm x 4.445 cm
• Measurements: lower joint: 10 in x 2 1/8 in; 25.4 cm x 5.3975 cm
• place made: France: Île-de-France, Paris
• ID Number: 1998.0240.03
• serial number: 13620
• accession number: 1998.0240
• catalog number: 1998.0240.03
• Credit Line: Gift of Jack Siefert
• 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.