Expert: Kenton Scott - 12/2/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi Kenton,
I'm hoping you can help me out.  My dad gave me a piccolo that was given to him by his father.  The story I got was that it was antique, worth a lot and had been played many times in the Phil Harmonic.  My dad tends to exaggerate so I have no idea what to think of this piccolo, but I can't find anything like it online anywhere!  I was wondering if you could help me determine approximately how old it is and what it might be worth?  You can view pictures of it at http://www.factspot.com/ebay/piccolo.html

The writing on the Piccolo says:
Buffet
Crampon 4 C
4 Paris
(logo BC)
2450
Made in France

Thanks in advance for your help.  I'm totally stumped on this one...there is very little information out there about Buffet Crampon Piccolos!

Sincerely,
Jennifer
Bothell, WA
Answer -
I don't know much about Picc's, my knowledge is more in brass instruments, but Buffet Crampon is considered a quality brand, though I believe his main reputation was built on clarinets. I also don't see any listings for serial numbers for piccs.  

They were making flute family instruments as early as 1878.  With what appears to be a serial number of 2450, it surely would seem that this horn was made quite a while ago.  The clarinets used a combination of numbers and letters for serial numbers but for Oboes, they reached the 2400 in 1890, and  for saxophones they reached 2400s in 1878.

On the other hand, that case looks to be considerably newer than that.  

So, lets just leave it that I don't know much about Picc's and I can draw no conclusions from the information I have available to me.

kms


Thanks for your help.  It is a difficult subject.  Do you have any suggestions on where to go to get more information?  How do I even start looking for a local music expert?  I already tried emailing Buffet-Crampon but both of their email address bounced back. =(

Thanks,

Jennifer


Answer
Well, these would just be leads.  I don't know that any of them would have the information you are seeking, but if I were trying to track it down, I'd start with these folks.

lightnsail@aol.com - This person, embarrassingly enough I met via a failed ebay sale.  I was trying to sell a Buffet Crampon  for a friend, and found out that through ignorance we hadn't provide enough information about the horn. This person, Jerry, I don't know if male or female, did seem knowldgeable on clarinets though.

http://www.flutesonline.com/ - This site has a number of interesting flute related offerings, also the site has a hyper link to a Flute Ring that may be helpful.

MSEARLE@kc.rr.com - and Michael gold plates flutes and piccs.  He may be aware of these horns as well.