Production start date: 1825

Buffet Crampon is a brand specialized in the production of woodwind musical instruments (clarinets, oboes, saxophones and bassoons). Currently, it is part of a conglomerate called Buffet Group that brings together other brands of wind musical instruments such as Besson, B&S, Antoine Courtois, among others. The history of the Buffet Crampon brand goes back a long way, starting in 1825, when Frenchman Dennis Buffet (1783-1841), known as Buffet-Auger after his marriage to Marie-Anne Auger, opened a workshop in Paris and began to produce string and wind instruments, dedicating himself especially to clarinets. From 1830 onwards, Dennis B.’s son, Jean-Louis Buffet (1813-1865), gradually took the lead of the business assuming full responsibility after his father’s death in 1841.

In 1844, Jean-Louis Louis changed the name of the small company to Buffet Crampon, including the name of his wife Zöe Crampon, whom he had married in 1836. Between 1850 and 1865, the company grew and included new partners, such as Pierre Goumas, husband of a niece of Jean-Louis, who, after his death, took over the direction of the company. In the following year, 1866, Goumas started manufacturing saxophones. Shortly thereafter, in 1870, Goumas formed a new partnership and the company was renamed Goumas & Cie, however, the Buffet Crampon & Cie brand continued to be used. In the late 19th century, Goumas sold his share of the business to his former disciples, Paul Evette and Ernest Schaeffer. The new owners of the brand dedicated themselves to introducing important changes in the structure of the saxophone and many of their innovations are present in the modern saxophone. In addition, they began to produce instruments from the brass family. In 1918, after the death of Paul Evette, his son Maurice took over the management of the company. In 1929, Maurice retired and the company was sold to Paul-Eugène Leseigneur, Gabriel Franot and Paul Lefèvre. In 1970, Buffet-Crampon was purchased by the American group Tolchin Instruments Inc.. In turn, in 1981, this American group was purchased by Boosey & Hawkes of London. In 2005, the eponymous group Buffet Crampon was created, which during the first decade of the 21st century incorporated other brands of wind musical instrument manufacturers. In 2012, Buffet Crampon Group became Buffet Group (Buffet Group).

References: 

GROVE MUSIC ONLINE, 2014.
Buffet Crampon website: <http://www.buffet-crampon.com/>