@Niner This sounds correct. Pete was given free clarinets by Vito Pascucci, the owner of LeBlanc Corp. 'Vito' became a brand name, of student line instruments, under the Holton/LeBlanc umbrella. Pete played his own model, gold plated keyed, small-bore LeBlanc clarinet. Vito was a very successful guy in the instrument business, but his son wanted no part of it after he died. His son sold the company/assets to what is now Conn-Selmer. I'm not surprised that Pete would give someone a free horn, as Vito had the habit of giving samples out to many people as gifts. I know this first hand as he gave free instruments to a top LA Clarinet player and free trumpets for his son. Sadly, LeBlanc (under Conn-Selmer) no longer makes the Pete Fountain clarinet.

I've heard they are made in China now. If you know the Chinese makers, there is Jinbao and Jinyin. Jinyin is making the Lynnzhorn for Lynn Nicholson. I asked a couple of years ago if Hoxon Gakki (CarolBrass) was making them, and the answer was 'No.'

@Niner This sounds correct. Pete was given free clarinets by Vito Pascucci, the owner of LeBlanc Corp. 'Vito' became a brand name, of student line instruments, under the Holton/LeBlanc umbrella. Pete played his own model, gold plated keyed, small-bore LeBlanc clarinet. Vito was a very successful guy in the instrument business, but his son wanted no part of it after he died. His son sold the company/assets to what is now Conn-Selmer. I'm not surprised that Pete would give someone a free horn, as Vito had the habit of giving samples out to many people as gifts. I know this first hand as he gave free instruments to a top LA Clarinet player and free trumpets for his son. Sadly, LeBlanc (under Conn-Selmer) no longer makes the Pete Fountain clarinet.