Help with a Besson horn

[BQ93]

Please forgive me and feel free to delete if this is an improper request. I’ve inherited a Besson horn and I was hoping I could get some help in identifying it.

I’m not a brass player but it is either a 3 valve baritone or euphonium. Satin finish. Serial number 570,xxx which I believe puts it in the 1975 range. Can anyone point me to additional resources to help get more information on this horn?

Thank you.

[BQ93]

[RickF]

Hi BQ93,

Welcome to the forum. That's definitely a euphonium and is a 3 valve compensating model. That helps correct intonation with multiple valves being pressed - especially when using 1-3 and 123.

See this link if interested:
http://www.dwerden.com/eu-articles-comp.cfm

[BQ93]

Thanks

Hi BQ93,

Welcome to the forum. That's definitely a euphonium and is a 3 valve compensating model. That helps correct intonation with multiple valves being pressed - especially when using 1-3 and 123.

See this link if interested:
http://www.dwerden.com/eu-articles-comp.cfm

I appreciate it. As I said I am completely out of my element. I'll take a look at the link.

[BQ93]

Can you give me any tips on how i can determine the model? I am fairly certain it is a student model, but I do not have any idea how to tell which one.

[RickF]

Can’t tell you the model number but would say some prefer these over a 4-valve compensator model because they’re lighter, have a good tone and play relatively in tune. Maybe someone else will know the model number.

— edited to remove an error —

[davewerden]

For many decades (until the Sovereign models came along in the mid-1970's) the New Standard or Imperial models were Besson's top of the line and were professional models. The pros all played 4-valve horns, but the 3-valve compensating horns were of the same quality. So it's hard to categorize it, but the quality is that of a pro horn 100%. There undoubtedly was a model number but I don't remember it.

If you browse through the for sale section you'll see many examples where horns like this were offered for sale.

[BQ93]

Thank you both for the help. I will do some research on the forum and see what I can determine.

[Will]

I have one in the same serial number range (as well as another 4 valve w/ removable front bell). As far as I have been able to determine, the 3v compensating is a model 176.

[BQ93]

Thanks for the information. That should help.

[Will]

This page has information on Bessons from a 1958 catalog. This model was made at least into the 70s based upon serial numbers seen.

https://horn-u-copia.net/cgi-bin/yab...m=1181698452/3