It was in 1825 that a French luthier, Denis Buffet-Auger, set up his studio in the heart of Paris. He made himself known very quickly in the musical world by making excellent clarinets with 13 keys. At that time, the making of clarinets was entirely manual and required exceptional experience and dexterity. It was in 1825 that a French luthier, Denis Buffet-Auger, set up his studio in the heart of Paris. He made himself known very quickly in the musical world by making excellent clarinets with 13 keys. At that time, the making of clarinets is entirely manual and requires exceptional experience and dexterity. In 1830, Jean-Louis Buffet, Denis's son, took over the business. He married Zoe Crampon in 1836 and created the famous brand BUFFET CRAMPON. The logo in its current form appears in 1844. His uncle Louis-Auguste Buffet meets the clarinettist Hyacinthe Klosé, virtuoso musician and professor at the Conservatoire de Paris. The two men, the technician and the artist, will work together and adapt to the clarinet the principle of the mobile rings that the German Theobald Boehm had imagined for the flute. Exhibited in 1839 and patented in 1843 for the clarinet and oboe, this new system has a rapid success. To meet the demand, the invoice BUFFET CRAMPON installs its workshops in 1850 in Mantes-la-Ville (Yvelines). The range also extends to oboes and bassoons. As early as 1866, BUFFET CRAMPON made its first saxophones, 20 years after the invention of the Belgian Adolphe Sax. Many prizes are awarded to BUFFET CRAMPON for the quality of his instruments and especially in 1889 during the Universal Exhibition of Paris at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. BUFFET CRAMPON becomes the exclusive and official supplier of the Conservatoire de Paris, the Lamoureux Concerts, the famous Toscanini Orchestra in New York, while the soloists of the Paris Opera or the Opéra Comique give it the preference. In 1918, BUFFET CRAMPON benefited from the extension of the American market and consolidated its position as leader in the world of professional clarinet. In 1921, a young apprentice, Robert Carrée, is engaged in society. A talented acoustician, he created the R13 clarinets in 1950 and RC in 1975, which later gave birth to the Festival and Prestige models. The workshops are modernizing over time and adopting a more modern technology, without departing from the quality of original finish. In 1981, BUFFET CRAMPON was bought by the famous Boosey & Hawkes musical group in London, whose origins date back to 1760. Innovation is still at the heart of the manufacture. Thus was born in 1994 a new range called Green Line. This revolutionary material, consisting of 95% ebony powder and 5% carbon fiber, eliminates the risk of cracking while presenting acoustic qualities identical to those of wood. Today, the Green Line range is recognized worldwide by the greatest clarinet and oboe professionals. In 2003, Boosey & Hawkes broke away from the flagship of the French wind instrument manufacturer in favor of The Music Group and it was in 2005 that BUFFET CRAMPON regained its independence on the initiative of its President Paul Baronnat, a player committed to coaching artists and safeguarding the brand. BUFFET CRAMPON acquires in 2006 two famous brands of brass: Antoine Courtois Paris and Besson. Since its creation, BUFFET CRAMPON has been at the forefront of clarinet manufacturers, thanks to unrivaled know-how and a capacity for permanent innovation, which also benefits the other instruments of the brand such as oboes, bassoons and saxophones. Tradition and a strong entrepreneurial spirit have been, since 1825, more than ever at the heart of BUFFET CRAMPON's dynamic.
Brand reference number:
BC321ESE11
