Elden Benge's Besson Trumpet. September 17, 2003 To whom it may concern: The French Besson Bb trumpet, serial number 85419 is the instrument played by Elden Benge, the first trumpet with the Chicago Symphony under the direction of Frederick Stock. Benge's death in 1960 in Burbank, California, the trumpet company was inherited. 5139, Cornet, Service Class, Sold by Besson & Co., London, England, Star, Made in England. The numbers on the 3 valves are 55 56 57. (14 inches long including the mouthpiece.
homebilly wrote: |
1980s |
1980's would make more sense.
According to this site http://users.actrix.co.nz/mcamilleri/TheBessonLoyalist.htm#_Toc130023214
Serial Numbers
Kanstul is not keen on supplying serial number info as it takes a lot of time to look them up and the records are patchy on the Besson lines anyway. Your best bet is to contact Buffet-Crampon for these Bessons, or just rely on the identification info. Kanstul records of the French Besson are better, although for 4 digit serial numbers they overlapped with other brass lines, for example the same serial number could be on a French Besson trumpet, a mellophone, and a custom Callet trumpet. All existing Kanstul French Besson trumpets have 3, 4 or 5 digit serial numbers (got to about 7,000 by 1998, now at around 40,000). Many non-Kanstul Bessons have 6 digit serial numbers or longer. If you see a 6 digit or longer serial number on a French Besson trumpet I知 guessing that it is not a Kanstul French Besson, but the 609 and similar models may have long serial numbers. Since we know that all Classic, Stamm, Meha, and Brevete models are Kanstul made there is no need to check their serial numbers.
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B & H Sovereign 928
Conn 80A
B&S Challenger II 3137 rl
Yamaha YTR 2335 KGU
Buescher 400 - 225 (WWII)
Benge 90C
ACB Doubler Flugelhorn
ACB mouthpieces for most of my playingAfter several attempts over the past months (whew), your question spurred me to give it another shot. I found this info at the elstub enterprises music site. It appears to be accurate for prewar bessons, mehas, and brevetes. Hope this helps. BTW, my 1934 Meha's valves have the springs on the bottom and I think this may be characteristic of prewar models. If anyone knows differently, please elighten us.
Besson - Paris (1869-1947)
Serial Numbers / Year of Manufacture
001-10000 / 1869-74
10001-14000 / 1874-76
14001-24143 / 1876-79
24144-26000 / 1879-82
26001-30000 / 1882-84
30001-36000 / 1884-87
36001-40000 / 1887-89
40001-50000 / 1889-94
50001-68000 / 1894-1901
68001-69000 / 1901-05
69001-70000 / 1905-06
70001-77500 / 1906-11
77501-82000 / 1911-20
82001-87000 / 1920-34
87001-92000 / 1934-47
Cheers
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WayneG
1934 (or '35) Meha (.460)(4 3/4' bell)(32.6 oz.)(#878**)
'Where, then, does the soul reside with its better body while it awaits the sound of the trumpet?'--Stephen J. Gould