RichN

Well, not 'identify' as such, but I'd like to find out a bit more about its history; when was it made, was it a special or a mass produced trumpet, what ability level was it pitched at etc. It belongs to a friend who's had it for a few years, but recently had it fixed (i.e. made playable!) and silver plated. It was originally lacquered.

It's a D trumpet (no Eb slides).

Engraved on the bell:

British Plated
LP
Class A
50 Medals of Honour
FB
Besson & Co
"Prototype"
LONDON ENGLAND
*
British Throughout

And on the 2nd valve case, in an oval:

F Besson & Co
*
Brevette

The serial number is 126.060


Any ideas?

Rich.

tpter1

Rich- I have a book called "Twentieth Century Brass Instruments in the United States" by Richard Dundas, pub. Queen City Brass Press. It says:
"..During the 1970's, the English Besson label was supplanted by Boosey and Hawkes labels and modified designs". (From Cousenon?) "In 1983, Boosey and Hawkes announced the resurgence of the F. Besson trumpet to be made in a new factory in Los Angeles, California."

He goes on to discuss the Meha Bb and C, and mentions the Brevette as being a Bb in two bore sizes. From this, I come to the conclusion that this horn must date from about this period as a trial prototype that was never put into production. Since it says "Brevette", and "Prototype" and because of all of the English manufacturing trademarks, I can only deduce that it must have been built just before the new factory opened in L.A.

Kind of a cool thing to have!

__________________
-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting