[Bluesblaster]

Hi All;

I have a LeBlanc Vito clarinet serial number 094181. I am trying to find out how old it is. I found a few websites with LeBlanc serial numbers. There is a table for Vito clarinet models 7212,7213,7214,v40,cl612, cl614,7242. This table shows all serial numbers to have a letter prefix before the numbers, which mine does not.

Directly under this table is another table for Model 7131RK. These serial numbers do not have any letter prefixes, but I am not sure if model 7131RK is another Vito model or a different clarinet all together. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Is there anyplace on the clarinet where the model number is listed? Mine just says Vito Reso-tone.

Thanks!

 

[saintsday]

Hi All;

I have a LeBlanc Vito clarinet serial number 094181. I am trying to find out how old it is. I found a few websites with LeBlanc serial numbers. There is a table for Vito clarinet models 7212,7213,7214,v40,cl612, cl614,7242. This table shows all serial numbers to have a letter prefix before the numbers, which mine does not.

Directly under this table is another table for Model 7131RK. These serial numbers do not have any letter prefixes, but I am not sure if model 7131RK is another Vito model or a different clarinet all together. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Is there anyplace on the clarinet where the model number is listed? Mine just says Vito Reso-tone.

Thanks!

I am not sure, but I think a 7131RK is a sax model.

 

[stevesklar]

is it plastic or rubber ?
can you post some pics ?

 

[Bluesblaster]

Hi Saintsday

Yeah I've searched Vito with that model number and also found saxaphones. The website where I got the serial number list is:

http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Leblanc.html

This is the serial number list below (I've truncated the list in the middle of each series as it made for a pretty long post otherwise)

Vito Clarinets
Models 7212,7213,7214,v40,cl612,cl614,7242
1972 A80000 B00235
1973 B00236 B19755
1974 B19756 B43177
1975 B43178 B67359
This series goes up to
2000 D86151 E09559
2001 E09560 E33519
2002 E33520 E53900
2003 E53901

Model 7131RK
1970 1 500
1971 501 2155
1972 2156 3529
1973 3530 4421
1974 4422 12000
1975 12001 25603
This list goes up to
1999 560614 575843
2000 575842 587455
2001 587456 624567
2002 624568 654084

I've found this list on other websites as well:

Steve. I believe the clarinet is made of a material called resonite. I can take some pics but I'll need to research how to post them on this site.

Thanks for getting back to me

 

[stevesklar]

i think the 7131 is a Sax too
i used to have a Vito sax

fyi, the V40 clarinet was rubber. just wanted to make sure.
Some Vito clarinets were marked "VSP" and were actually made by LeBlanc France

yours being ebonite (aka plastic) its a normal Vito then .. of course i'm not sure on the exact model number. The Selmer USA vendor CD has them in it though. I'll try and check tonight.

 

[Bluesblaster]

Thanks Steve;

I'll look the horn over tonight and see if there is any other identifying info on it somewhere

 

[Bluesblaster]

Hi Steve and Saintsday

I need to research how to upload pictures because I tried to attach pictures but keep getting an upload failed message.

BTW I had a type error in the serial number in my original post. The correct serial number is 09481. Sorry for the confussion. My bad!

In the meantime the body and bell are marked with the name "Vito" in an oval.
On the body right under the logo is "Reso-tone".
Under this is "U.S.A".
Right below USA is the number 3 in a circle.

I'll try to get the pics attached.

Thanks for the help

 

[stevesklar]

(edited)

i'm still trying to find my Selmer USA vendor CD

but i've seen several sources that have 7131RK as a vito clarinet even though i also know it's a Vito alto sax

does your have an adjustable thumbrest ?
bell ring?
polished or rough type finish ebonite ?

 

[saintsday]

If you want to email the pics to me, I'd be happy to post them for you.

 

[Bluesblaster]

Hi All

Still no luck posting the pics. Saintday I'd like to take you up on your offer, but when I tried to send an email it does not look like there is a way to attach files. Are we able to send attachments to email via SOTW?

However to answer your questions Steve
The thumbrest is not adjustable
There is a metal bell ring
The finish is smooth and somewhat shiney

 

[saintsday]

saintsday at gmail dot com

 

[Bluesblaster]

Thanks I just sent them

 

[saintsday]

I had to downsize the files a bunch. If anyone wants the huge originals, email me and I can send them.

 

[Bluesblaster]

Sorry for cramming you inbox.
How did you downsize the files?
Thanks again!

 

[SOTSDO]

Looks like a vintage Vito to me. I used to know the tone hole sizes, which are a good indication on these horns, but I've lost that bit of information over the years.

However, it sure looks like a "standard" Vito instrument to me...

 

[Bluesblaster]

Hi Everyone!

Thanks again for looking into this and thanks again Saintsday for uploading the pictures. I didn't realize the file sizes until I saw you post. Now I know why I was getting an error message.

So if this is a standard or vintage Vito clarinet does anyone have any idea to
how old it is.

Thanks again everyone

 

[saintsday]

Sorry for cramming you inbox.
How did you downsize the files?
Thanks again!

You're welcome.
In gmail they give you a small preview pic in the body of the email. I just dragged them onto the desktop and then loaded them into photobucket.

 

[stevesklar]

Terry - do you think early 70s for this?

either way the value of a Vito clarinet (vintage or not) is not very high.

 

[Bluesblaster]

Hi All;

Looking more on the internet and it looks like this is called a Vito Resotone 3. I didn't expect it to be worth too much (I picked it up for $30.00). I didn't play clarinet when I bought it. I saw it in a junk shop and happened to have $30.00 and thought it'd be neat to try taking lessons. I never really gave a second thought to it's pedigree or value as it really didn't matter to me.

But my daughter now want to take lessons in the 4th grade band and I started inquiring on SOTW if this is a decent student clarinet or a piece of junk that will make learning difficult for her. Just trying to figure out exactly what it is I have here because when I came upon the list of Vito serial numbers above I didn't see any thing for resotone.

Thanks again for all the effort!

 

[Bluesblaster]

Hi All;

Just got off the phone with a customer service rep from Conn-Selmer. According to her the fact that the serial number does not have a letter prefix places this horn sometime prior to 1964 which is as far back as their records go although she was not able to tell me when the reso-tone 3 came out.

Looks like the trail goes cold.

Thanks again