| The magic # 500 serial number
Steve,
Here is what was said to me when I asked Zig about the “magic # 500 starting point of Benge trumpets
As you probably know, Zig Kanstul worked for Eldon Benge both in Burbank and Anaheim facilities and continued his relationship with Benge after the acquisition of Benge by UMI. He left UMI / Benge in 1980,
In 1981, shortly before UMI moved the Benge production east, Kanstul was opening his own shop in southern California, close to the original Benge, Anaheim facility.
When UMI decided to move the Benge facility out of Anaheim to Elkhart under the UMI Corp. banner (Conn, King, Benge, Artley, Armstrong, etc)
Zig’s next factory was close to the original Benge/Anaheim plant and this is when he started to make horns for Boosy and Hawke’s and the beginnings of the “Burbank Trumpet “line based on the Burbank Benge made by Eldon Benge. It was at this point , that Donald Benge was involved with the “ Burbank Trumpet “ and the Kanstul facility I, in general, in the capacity of consultant and partner with Zig, but eventually Zig bought out Donald share and is now sole owner of the line. Mike Thomas Music distributes the “Burbank Trumpet “line.
He has heard this “ # 500 “ starting number before, but has seen and has owned Chicago Benges before that number and has one stamped “ # 35x “ . (He asked me not to give out the exact number). He said that he never remember Eldon or Donald Benge ever giving the #500 as a starting point to anyone and that Donald also says he never gave this kind of info publicly.
Well, that’s boils down a long conversation in a “nutshell “. Zig told me he does get calls about this issue from time to time and usual leaves it “up in the air “with the caller because he really doesn’t have time to, as he puts it, “talk someone into the truth “.
Bob Reeves actually has a data base of trumpets he has aligned ( It can be accessed by either name of client or brand/serial number ) and he also has a couple Chicago Benges below the # 500 registered as being aligned since he’s started aligning trumpets in the early 70’s and recording the info.
Larry
PS: I will PM privately on a way to contact Mr. Cichowitz |