Wichita Band Instrument Company
Wichita, Kansas
 
A Rare, Vintage Model RC-A KEY OF A, Clarinet from Buffet-Crampon. Made in Paris, 1981.
 
This superb clarinet came to us in fine condition with original parts, but was in need of a full mechanical overhaul. The keywork is not worn, and the original SILVER plate shows no wear. There are no cracks in the wood and the tenons are still sharp.
 
The instrument comes in the original single case, still in fine condition.  A new DOUBLE case is available for a few dollars more.
 
All pads and corks are new.  TWO barrel sections, one is 64.5 mm , the other 65.0 mm.
 
Around the early part of the 20th century, the US distributor for Buffet-Crampon clarinets was Carl Fischer Musical Instrument Company. US businessman Martin Tolchin acquired controlling interest in the French firm in the sixties, and a new company was formed. Shares were listed on the American Stock Exchange as Buffet-Crampon, the name later changed to Tolchin Musical Instruments.  I still own 565 shares of "Buffet-Crampon, S.A." also known as "Tolchin Musical Instruments".

It’s still a mystery to many Tolchin minority shareholders, but by the late seventies losses had set in and continued to mount. Faced with massive financial problems, all of Tolchin Musical Instruments was absorbed in 1980 by the British Boosey-Hawkes Company.

*** WBIC has been in business since 1953, with the same owner since 1963. We do know a bit about French clarinets, and yes, we still hold 565 shares of “Buffet-Crampon U.S.A.”.
 
*** Many of the comments and opinions noted above are the direct result of our having had personal conversations with Buffet-Crampon management and from financial information I (the Owner) have, as a shareholder, received from the Tolchin firm.
 
***GR/Wichita
 
HG