Besson Cornet from the 1850s
This cornet belongs to the great paleontologist and cornet historian
Niles Eldredge. Niles has spent much effort researching the elusive
history of the French brass instrument maker, Besson. Besson's shop
was both prolific and innovative although fraught business
complications. It was among the French makers accused of patent
infringement by Sax. The founder, Gustave Besson, had to leave the
country to avoid additional legal action. This instrument was made
before he left for England in 1858 and take note of the monogram
stamped on the bell in the last photograph. At a glance it could easily
be mistaken for the later initials "FR" or "FB" as seen on later Besson
instruments, but a closer look reveals "GB" for Gustave Besson.
Niles also points out that on instruments made after Besson left the
business in the capable hands of his wife, Florentine, and later
daughter, Marthe, the feminine case of the word breveté is used
(brevetée). Besson, in both France and England, was an important
force in the development of all sizes of brass instruments, but most
importantly by establishing the form of our modern trumpet. This
cornet was made at a time when Besson was already making cornets
with the more modern Perinet piston valves, whereas it has Stoelzel
valves, which were phased out soon after. This is among the earliest
half dozen or less instruments known to exist made by Besson. For
more history of early cornet development and Besson in particular,
there are some excellent articles on VintageCornets.com.
This cornet at first appears in pretty good condition other that the
sloppy solder in several places. Somebody made their best effort to
restore it, but it seems rather amateurish for such a historically
important instrument. The biggest challenge is revealed in the third
photo that shows that there is a large replacement tube in the curve of
the bell that was very crudely mounted. I made a replacement tube
and the simple way to attach it would be with ferrules at each end, but
that would also be somewhat unsightly. Instead, I very carefully silver
soldered it to the original bell parts after removing dents from them.
The balance of the restoration was rather straightforward. Niles didn't
request reproductions of the original A shank or missing crooks, which
probably put the cornet in Ab and G. The existing crook is for the
key of F and appears to be original with this instrument. It is a fairly
good player, but mostly represents one of Besson's early and unique
cornet designs.
Niles Eldredge. Niles has spent much effort researching the elusive
history of the French brass instrument maker, Besson. Besson's shop
was both prolific and innovative although fraught business
complications. It was among the French makers accused of patent
infringement by Sax. The founder, Gustave Besson, had to leave the
country to avoid additional legal action. This instrument was made
before he left for England in 1858 and take note of the monogram
stamped on the bell in the last photograph. At a glance it could easily
be mistaken for the later initials "FR" or "FB" as seen on later Besson
instruments, but a closer look reveals "GB" for Gustave Besson.
Niles also points out that on instruments made after Besson left the
business in the capable hands of his wife, Florentine, and later
daughter, Marthe, the feminine case of the word breveté is used
(brevetée). Besson, in both France and England, was an important
force in the development of all sizes of brass instruments, but most
importantly by establishing the form of our modern trumpet. This
cornet was made at a time when Besson was already making cornets
with the more modern Perinet piston valves, whereas it has Stoelzel
valves, which were phased out soon after. This is among the earliest
half dozen or less instruments known to exist made by Besson. For
more history of early cornet development and Besson in particular,
there are some excellent articles on VintageCornets.com.
This cornet at first appears in pretty good condition other that the
sloppy solder in several places. Somebody made their best effort to
restore it, but it seems rather amateurish for such a historically
important instrument. The biggest challenge is revealed in the third
photo that shows that there is a large replacement tube in the curve of
the bell that was very crudely mounted. I made a replacement tube
and the simple way to attach it would be with ferrules at each end, but
that would also be somewhat unsightly. Instead, I very carefully silver
soldered it to the original bell parts after removing dents from them.
The balance of the restoration was rather straightforward. Niles didn't
request reproductions of the original A shank or missing crooks, which
probably put the cornet in Ab and G. The existing crook is for the
key of F and appears to be original with this instrument. It is a fairly
good player, but mostly represents one of Besson's early and unique
cornet designs.
Click on images for larger views.
