Hi Tm,
If you would like information on your Besson cornet there are 2 guys out here on the west coast that are excellent references.
One is a national known repairman and excellent brass restorater by the name of Robb Stewart. He is one of the most honest guys I know and will tell you if this instrument is worth putting any money into. For a total overhaul, he has a waiting list of about a year, but will do samller jobs as they come.
Besson's have had quite a history including being shut down by the Nazi's invasion of France during WW II ( that's why you usually hear Bessons described as pre-war and post-war Bessons ) , plus they had a breif terms being made in England. These Besson are considered not to be very good models or quality.
For Robb check out from Nick Decarlis's site:
http://www.vintagecornets.com/html/repairshop2.htm http://www.vintagecornets.com/html/robb_stewart.htm
Robb doesn't have a site but his phone number is:
1-626-447-2904
He sends me a " for sale " list every month so I might as well post it here incase you see your model on it and will know about what it's worth.
He's very fair in his trumpet and cornet priceing - It's 4 pages long
"Hi Larry
I've just updated my for sale list and you can see it at
http://www.geocities.com/oldbrass1/price.html
Robb "
The other person that really knows Bessons is Zig Kanstul. When he copied the line for his own company, he bought up as many quality old pre-war Bessons as he could find and measured them to get the specs. He does a small amount of repair work when the shop has time , but being it's a Besson , he'd certainly would have the parts or could fabricate any duplication for the repair.
He doesn't have a personal e-mail address but here's his office number.
1-714-563-3323 - ask for Zig
Do yourself a favor and play your cornet. Clarke studies and even Schlossberg take on a whole new meaning played on a cornet, plus all the great music written primarily for cornet is wonderful. A cornet is a very fun instrument to play and certain passages are much easier to execute on a cornet - Good for the self-esteem.
See Ya,
Larry