Description

B-flat/A cornet – F. BESSON

This is an F. Besson “Système Prototype” cornet from around 1911–1912. This designates Besson’s famous, uniform mandrel manufacturing method. It was invented in 1858 and ensured consistent internal dimensions across their professional instruments.

Engraved at the legendary 96 Rue d’Angoulême workshop in Paris, the bell proudly displays the company’s highest honours, including the prestigious Brussels 1910 Grand Prix ribbon. This fine specimen features a rare, built-in transposing rotary valve designed to shift the instrument’s pitch seamlessly between the keys of Bb and A without swapping slides mid-performance. It comes complete with its original stamped F. Besson mouthpiece. This rare Parisian instrument represents a golden age of manufacturing and would make a superb addition to any serious collection or restoration project.

Let’s be completely honest: visually, it looks absolutely dreadful right now. It has spent the last century cultivating a spectacular, heavy black tarnish. However, beneath that 100-year-old layers-of-grim patina lies a piece of French musical history. Please take a look at the photos for more details.