brass2002

I just received a Chicago Benge Eb/D sn 2985. The bore size is ML. It plays extremely well, responses very much like my Chicago Benge C. The intonation is extremely good on both sides. Does anyone heard of anything about Chicago benge Eb/D?

Benge Loyalist

A Chicago Benge D/Eb is sufficiently rare that little, if any information can be found. I've seen only one on eBay and I couldn't believe my eyes because I had previously thought that none were made in Chicago.

My Burbank D/Eb is a joy to play but I have to pay constant attention to intonation. Attacks are crisp, valve work is precise, and I can take it into the upper register with no more resistance than on my Bb and C.

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Benge Loyalist(aka UsedBits) owns the following instruments:
Benge Bb, 5x, ml #8162 Burbank 1969, gold plated
Benge C, 2x+, mlp #7481 Burbank 1968, silver plated
Benge D/Eb, ml #6579 Burbank 1965, raw brass
Stomvi piccolo, m15, #901885

tom turner

Hi,

Congratulations on your rare acquisition!!!

Evidently, Eldon knew how to make his little trumpet (D/Eb) play well! I'm so glad for you.

I became a rabid Benge fan in the very early '70s when I became aware of Eldon's awesome horns. I finally got my own, an early LA Benge in 1972 (#9727) that was the best horn I ever played until I got my Wild Thing.

Around 1976-77 or so, I ordered a brand new Benge D/Eb from the factory for my quintet work. This was so logical because of my awesome impressions and love of the Benge Bb and C trumpets I'd owned and played.

BAD MISTAKE! The new Benge D/Eb was a total disappointment . . . a total P.O.S.!!! The scale and evenness of blow was terrible . . . some notes didn't want to speak and the intonation was atrocious.

I wrote the Benge factory . . . and detailed over twenty specific things wrong with that horn and asked if they could exchange it for a decent one. The response, and I'll paraphrase: "We're sorry, and you are right on all points. We know our literature claims our D/Eb has excellent intonation and a wonderful blow but . . . it is a bad horn." They then offered to take the horn back and give me a refund!

Talk about honesty and great service. Alas, something happened to Benge products . . . even in those last dark days under King in California when the pressure got intense to ramp up production significantly. I was stunned that someone would give me my money back and openly admit the product was inferior (at the time).

Of course, not much later UMI/King ruined the REAL Benge trumpets when they moved production to Eastlake and chose to use their own new tooling rather than Benge's stuff. It was a totally different horn that played terrible.

Your post reminds us of just how good a Benge trumpet could be . . . when made by the hands of Mr. Benge!

You've got a real treasure . . . and I sure wish it was mine!!!

Congratulations again on a fantastic . . . and rare Benge!!!

Sincerely,

Tom Turner