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1825

The French instrument maker Denis Buffet Auger sets up his workshop in the heart of Paris, at 20 Passage du Grand Cerf. He rapidly becomes well-known in the musical community by producing excellent 13-key clarinets.

1836

Jean-Louis Buffet, Denis’ son, marries Zoe Crampon in 1836 and creates the famous Buffet Crampon brand name.

1844

The logo used today is first created. It appears on all of the instruments created by the company.

1850

This year saw the establishment of the Buffet Crampon workshops and factory in Mantes-la-Ville (Yvelines, France) and creation of the Buffet Crampon Boehm system clarinet.

1866

Buffet Crampon creates its first saxophones, 20 years after the invention of this instrument by the Belgian Adolphe Sax.

1889

Buffet Crampon wins a number of awards at the Universal Exposition in Paris.

1900

At this year’s World Exposition, Evette & Schaeffer (Buffet-Crampon & Cie) expose 226 instruments, wood and brass. Eye -catcher is a metal contrabassoon.

1907

The double reed pages of the Evette & Schaeffer catalogue feature 14 oboe models of various systems in Bb, C, Db and Eb, pastoral oboes in G and Ab, oboe d’amore in A, musettes in Ab, 8 different cor anglais and baryton oboes, 18 bassoon types in C, D, and E, simplified bassoons in F and G, as well as contrabassoons in wood and metal.

1918

Buffet Crampon makes the most of the expansion of the American market and confirms its position as world leader of manufacturers of professional-quality clarinets.

1921

Robert Carrée joins Buffet Crampon as an apprentice in 1921. He is a talented acoustics technician and the creator of the R13 model.

1955

Robert Carrée joins Buffet Crampon as an apprentice in 1921. He is a talented acoustics technician and the creator of the R13 model.

1975

The year was marked by the arrival of the RC clarinet, which bore the initials of its designer, Robert Carrée. Two clarinets whose origins lie with this model later came into being, the Festival and Prestige models. The Prestige line is launched in all ranges.

1981

Buffet Crampon becomes a member of the famous Boosey & Hawkes group of London. This group was created in 1760

1994

Buffet Crampon creates the Green LinE and registers the brand name. It designed a range of instruments made from a composite of reconstituted ebony from Mozambique that keep 100% of the acoustic properties and provide incontestable reliability and longevity for the instruments.

2004

The year saw the creation of the line of professional clarinets referred to as TOSCA, another child of the R13 family, conceived and designed by Michel Arrignon and perfected in cooperation with the best-known musicians.

2005

The year was marked by the creation of the eponymous group Buffet Crampon. The brand name benefited from an upswing in investments. Ever seeking to meet the needs and expectations of professional musicians, Buffet Crampon extended its know-how and its range of saxophones, double reeds (and notably the English horn), and to its student models.

2006

The Buffet Crampon Group acquired two famous brass instrument brands: Antoine Courtois Paris (created in 1803) and Besson (created in 1837).

2008

The acquisition of a historical factory manufacturing clarinets located in la Couture Boussey in the Eure department (France) enables the company to expand Buffet Crampon’s production and to launch a new high-end student clarinet, the E11 France.

2010

The company continues to pursue its strategy of industrial independence, and through a new acquisition of a factory in Germany (Markneukirchen), it is able to develop new models of oboes and clarinets for students. The group, under the leadership of its Chairman, Antoine Beaussant, continues to grow in the wind instruments sector, with the entry into the group of two new brands: Wenzel Schreiber (clarinets and bassoons) and Julius Keilwerth (saxophones).

2012

The Buffet Crampon Group becomes Buffet Group. This new identity brings together all group brands with one single vision, to be the “Global Reference in Wind Instruments”.

2012

In collaboration with our workshops and internationally renowned clarinetists, Paul Meyer worked on the research project for developing new acoustics, resulting in the Divine clarinet. This new range of clarinet represents a major step forward in Buffet Crampon’s history, by fusing technical expertise with unparalleled craftsmanship in French wind instrument manufacturing.

In the same year, Buffet Crampon testers and artistic advisors, masters and soloists from the greatest international orchestras, combined their energy and created Orfeo, the new oboe in Green LinE, which distinguishes itself through its innovative design and outstanding acoustics.

2013

Senzo, destined to be the new standard in professional alto saxophones, is an essential step towards the renewal of Buffet Crampon saxophones. It faithfully reflects the combination of French musical instrument making know-how with state of the art technology to meet today’s musical demands.

2014

Jérôme Perrod appointed CEO of Buffet Group.
Jérôme Perrod comments, “I am glad to join such a prestigious company whose history goes back several centuries and I look forward to being part of its future. Supported by the extraordinary know-how of its highly professional teams in France and Germany, Buffet Group has the foundation needed to accelerate its growth, both in Europe and globally”.

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