Blind Bruce

There is a Boosey & Hawkes trumpet for sale in my area. I have never heard of them. Are they a well receiced horn or generally not very good?

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Bruce in the Peg
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”



Stephen Hawking




2009 Yamaha 8335RGS Xeno
1987 Yamaha 2320
1962 Olds special # 341xxx
Bach 5C
Rudy Muck 17C
Olds #3
Getzen 7C

tedh1951

Bruce, you might like to Google - Boosey & Hawkes - you'll see lots of data about their Music Publishing - and the more you search the more you'll discover about them as an instrument manufacturing organisation that started back in about 1745 with, I think Thomas Boosey. The instrument manufacturing part of the organisation was eventually taken over by Besson, if memory serves.

Now to your question, I have both a Boosey and Hawkes Imperial Tenor Horn and a Regent MkII Trumpet - both lower end models in their respective ranges but both nicely made - robust - good looking - nice tone - silverplated (I don't know that I have seen anything other than silverplate in Boosey & Hawkes but I will stand corrected. B.U.M. - being a Pom, may have better info for you through the British Brass Band scene.

All that being said, both my Boosey and Hawkes are keepers - the trumpet because I like it for marching and my Dad bought it as my first trumpet back in 1962 - and the Tenor Horn 'cause I so love the tone.

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Ted

MFfan

There are many archived threads here on Boosey and Hawkes instruments you can find. If you want to sign in to Horn-u-copia and go to the Boosey and Hawkes line, you can find lots of information and horn examples and commentary.
Boosey was originally a separate venerable company, as was Hawkes.
They had separate lines of instruments up untill they merged around 1934, I believe. They were the ones that took over Besson after WWII, but Besson continued a separate line of instrument until the late 60's I believe , in it's original form and B & H made their own, as Tedh said, from student to pro models, many of which were designed for export to American market, like my English Besson horns.

There is a B & H cornet still up for auction on shopgoodwill. It might be worthwhile to check your craigslist one out as it might be a good one. Weak point is the lack of OEM spare parts.

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Dave Rafferty
Lemar Trumpet (peashooter-Conn?)
Lyrical Trumpet (Tokan)

Besson 609 Trumpet
1955-60 Besson 8-10 Trumpet
1948 Besson cornet
1946 King Master Cornet
www.kalamazooconcertband.org

Peter McNeill

Hi Bruce,
B&H (Boosey & Hawkes NOT Benson & Hedges) were a very good British Brass Band Instrument and well regarded. Beware of early cornets as there is a tuning issue as lower tuning was normal in first half 1900s. see other threads on that topic.
I believe there are still B&H models made in India, so quality is lower.

The older models are the ones to go for, but there are many other alternatives now that should be considered. I played a B&H cornet in 1970s in a Brass Band for a short time (did not own it) and it played well and very mellow sound. Cannot offer much more advice, but surely many Brits would chime in here with experiences and comments..
Cheers

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Peter
Stopped Counting horns,
But just 1 more will be perfect...

Peter McNeill

BTW if the brand is "Boosey" rather than Boosey & Hawkes, or "Bessons" instead of Besson, be careful as they may be fake copies from India. Play it before you buy it.

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Peter
Stopped Counting horns,
But just 1 more will be perfect...

ChopsGone

"Boosey" doesn't necessarily indicate a fake. Check the serial number to determine the approximate age of the instrument. I have several Boosey instruments which were made prior to the merger with Hawkes, all "Class A", and all good instruments. "Bessons" with an "s" at the end is a well-known fraud.

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Vintage Olds and Reynolds, yes sir, yes sir, one gazoo full.

Calicchios, Besson, Kanstul Bessons, Selmers, etc.

F.E. forgive me, even a Bach Strad (but I like the others much better)