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Besson "Vocal Horn" in C c.1888 This
is a Vocal
Horn pitched in C. Vocal
horns were commonly used to approximate choral voices and usually used
for
parlor music and in town bands. This horn is unlacquered and the
perinet style valves
are raw brass. The inscription on the bell reads:
40 MEDALS OF HONOUR (in banner) FB (in ornate script) F. BESSON
"Prototype" 198 EUSTON ROAD LONDON (star logo) C. FISCHER 6 4th AV. N.Y. Sole agent - U. STATES The
2nd valve case
is marked F. BESSON BREVETE in an oval with a star in the center. The
serial number is 42459 indicating a date of manufacture of mid 1888.
The firm was originally established by Gusave August Besson in 1829 in
Paris. After patent disputes with Adolphe Sax, Besson moved to
London
in 1858 and died 1874. His wife Florentine and subsequently his
daughter Marthe took over the running of the company. F. Besson
stands
for Fontaine-Besson - the name adopted by Marthe when she married
Adolphe Fontaine in 1880.
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