The Selmer Company, a renowned manufacturer of high-quality woodwind and brass instruments, has been producing exceptional clarinets for over a century. One crucial aspect of owning a Selmer clarinet is understanding its serial number, which can provide valuable information about the instrument's production date, model, and authenticity.
| Serial Number Range | Approx. Year | Notable Clarinet Models Introduced | |-------------------|-------------|-------------------------------------| | 1 – 5,000 | 1900–1905 | Early “Perfect” system clarinets | | 5,001 – 12,000 | 1906–1912 | | | 12,001 – 18,500 | 1913–1918 | WWI era | | 18,501 – 23,000 | 1919–1923 | | | 23,001 – 28,500 | 1924–1928 | | | 28,501 – 35,000 | 1929–1933 | | | 35,001 – 42,000 | 1934–1938 | “Balanced” model (precursor to Series 9) | | 42,001 – 49,500 | 1939–1945 | WWII – production slowed | | 49,501 – 58,000 | 1946–1951 | Post-war revival | | 58,001 – 69,000 | 1952–1957 | | | 69,001 – 81,000 | 1958–1963 | Series 9* (late 1950s) | | 81,001 – 98,000 | 1964–1969 | Series 10G (1968) | | 98,001 – 112,000 | 1970–1974 | Series 10S | | 112,001 – 135,000 | 1975–1980 | | | 135,001 – 160,000 | 1981–1986 | Recital model (1985) | | 160,001 – 190,000 | 1987–1992 | Signature (late 1980s) | | 190,001 – 235,000 | 1993–1999 | | | 235,001 – 285,000 | 2000–2006 | CT (Classic Tradition) 2005 | | 285,001 – 350,000 | 2007–2014 | Presence (2010) | | 350,001 – 400,000+ | 2015–present | Muse, Paris models | selmer serial numbers clarinet
Selmer serial numbers follow a specific pattern, which can help you determine the production date of your clarinet. Here's a general breakdown: The Selmer Company, a renowned manufacturer of high-quality