Stalking the Cabart Clarinet

  I just finished overhauling my 2nd "Cabart A Paris" clarinet and was so impressed with the result that I have been doing some research online. As with many of my favorite old makes (French and otherwise), the lack of solid, user-friendly information is frustrating! Here's an entry from the 'Clarinet BBoard':

"From The New Langwill Index:
Cabart WWI fl Paris 1842-c1869, a1893-p1950, fl Ezy 1869-p1950.
1842 established in Paris; 1869 re-located as THIBOUVILLE-CABART at Ezy as successors to THIBOUVILLE-BERANGER (according to Jansen, it was `Cabart' that was successor to `Thibouville-Beranger' while, according to Rendall, `Cabart' was successor to `Thibouville-Cabart'); according to Pierre, from 1893 certain artist-quality instruments made by `Thibouville-Cabart' were marked `Cabart'; in the 1930s `Cabart a Paris (Thiberville succr.), Ezy' (see THIBERVILLE) was reported; from c1946 used as trade-name by a French WWI maker/ dealer." 

MARK:
(galleon) / CABART / A PARIS / b # (natural)
EXHIBITION:
Paris 1867.

And here's what Wikipedia has to say on the subject:

The Thibouville family is from La Couture-Boussey (Eure, France). From the early nineteenth century, its members would create about two dozen musical instruments brands with the name Thibouville. Jean-Baptiste Thibouville, born May 4, 1832, in La Couture-Boussey, was the inheritor of the brand Thibouville-Herouard (his parents' names) founded in 1842. First, He created two companies in Paris, which only last a short time because of the death of his associates. In 1867, he married Rose Leonie Cabart, daughter of Jean Michel Cabart, owner and comb manufacturer in Ezy-sur-Eure (Eure, France). In 1869, he established in Ezy-sur-Eure the Thibouville-Cabart factory.
Factory's life from 1869 to 1977

• 1878: Paris World's Fair (Wind instrument category - Bronze medal).
• 1889: Paris World's Fair (Wind instrument category - Silver medal).
• 1880-1890s: Louis Bas (1863–1944, 1st oboist at the Opera of Paris and at the Société des concerts, and J.-B. Thibouville's son-in-law), holds the shop in Paris. He makes research to improve oboes and bassoons.

It is from these years that the name Cabart a Paris is used for high quality instruments, other instruments are stamped Thibouville-Cabart a Paris. Mostly oboe, but also bassoon (German bassoon from the 1940s), contrabassoon, clarinet, flute, saxophone and English horn.

• 1897: Death of Jean-Baptiste Thibouville, his wife takes charge of the factory.

In the following decade, Paul Thibouville (1874–1949), another son-in-law, gradually takes the leadership of the company.

• 1948 : André Lhéridat and Marcel Lefèvre buy out the company.
• 1971-1977: Liquidation of the company. F. Lorée buys Cabart name for its student oboes in 1974.

In journalese, this kind of content is known as MEGO - My Eyes Glaze Over! It tends to discourage further speculation, but I remain curious. They were well known and respected for their oboes until the Lorree buyout c.1974, but not much is said about their clarinets. Both of the instruments I've restored were of a high order of manufacture: gorgeous wood, solid nickel alloy keys, which were hand silver soldered for strength, comfortable springing, good ergonomics and intonation. They rarely turn up for sale online and, when they do, sell for ludicrously low prices, given the quality of construction.

​If anyone has further information about Cabart and their clarinets, including playing experience and ownership, I'm all ears! 

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