Akrms

This Besson cornet has the serial number 104016 and has the words:
Class 'A' New Creation
50 Medals of Honour
Besson and Co.
"prototype"
198 Euston Rd.
London England
Star Agents
C.W. Lindsay. LTD.
Ottowa

MFfan

Go to the Horn-u-copia website and look under the Besson cornet thread, pg 2. There is a photo of a Besson Cornet serial 10308. Probably the Star Agents were the ones selling them in Canada. Down a couple more photos is one like yours, serial number 104808 from 1917-21 era. Engraved" Besson & Co. Class A New Creation, etc. but has Carl Fischer of NY as Sole agent for United States. Check out he Besson thread for a lot more info on Bessons. I have a 1955 Besson 8-10 trumpet. Thread said the cornet was in a matched pair with a Holton soprano trombone and most likely customized by the owner way back when. Hope this helps. Dave

camelbrass

As Dave says your cornet was made during the First World War, so it's quite an old one. They are reasonably common, built like tanks and have sat in band rooms all over the world collecting dust. It's also probably in high pitch which means you couldn't play it in a modern ensemble without modification.Standard low pitch, where A=440, was only settled in brass bands in the 60s.

The Canadian company was the importer.

Regards,


Trevor