Normandy Reso tone clarinet?
I have a Normandy Reso Tone USA clarinet serial #7460D, with a Leblanc case and a Selmer CL300 #12554. Can anyone tell me what year it is and how can you find info on instruments this way? Also is it made by buffet.
I’m going to answer your questions backwards, as you have asked the hardest one first!
Neither of you clarinets is made by Buffet… One is a Selmer, and the Normandy is made by LeBlanc.
Now, your Selmer is a student model- it is plastic (or resin, ABS, resonite, etc)… it’s resale value is not very high. Selmer does have listings of their serial numbers, but only for professional models… if you want the specific year yours was made, you need to call them directly (actually, I think you can call one of their dealers- they should be able to get you the info)…
http://www.conn-selmer.com/content/faq.php
As for your Normandy… Normandy USED to be their own brand and made decent high level student horns… they used grenadilla wood and silver keys. As the years passed, they had to compete with cheaper clarinets, and they (like most clarinet manufacturers) switched to plastic or resin and introduced their new model… the Reso Tone, in the mid 1960′s. However, Normandy was bought by LeBlanc in 1978, and the Normandy became the Noblet.
Normandy did stay around for a while after though, making specifically the Normandy 4 (in the 70′s), the Normandy 10 in the 80′s, and now the Normandy 12… though they still may be a subsidiary of LeBlanc.
LeBlanc also has a VERY bad record with keeping their serial numbers… there is a very small group of people trying to piece together lists from musician’s experiences… the process is slow going. LeBlanc has been in business since the 1940′s, but no records were kept until sometime in the late 60′s, early 70′s… so finding the year a student model was made is nearly impossible- even for them! LOL
Anyways, one of the best lists I’ve found is here:
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/snclarinet.htm#SNLeblanc
and NONE of the serial numbers for Normandy come CLOSE to what yours is… however the LeBlanc Models 7166/7168 seem to match yours. You may also want to scroll down and read about the different Normandy shields… they help identify the years. Also, I found another answer on Y!A in reguards to the Normandy, though I don’t think it will help you much:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060701080435AAumxIi
Sorry I couldn’t be more help, and I wish you luck on your search! 
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