Expert: Kenton Scott - 9/12/2008

Question
Kenton, I have a coronet that is my grandmothers. The case was badly burnt in a fire so I took the coronet to get cleaned and have the bell straightened. The whole place was in a buzz when I pulled it out.This is what is on the bell.

CLASS
A
NEW CREATION
50 MEDALS OF HONOUR (THIS IS INSIDE A RIBBON)
INITIALS THAT ARE INTERTWINED THAT APPEAR TO BE "FJB"
BESSON & CO
"PROTOTYPE"
198 EUSTON ROAD
LONDON
ENGLAND
A SYMBOL OF A "STAR"
CARL FISCHER
6. 4TH AV. N.Y.
SOLE AGENT U.STATES

ON THE VALVE IS AN OVAL SYMBOL WITH "BESSON & CO" ON TOP WITH A "STAR SYMBOL" IN THE MIDDLE AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE "BREVETS" AT THE BOTTOM UNDERNEATH THE OVAL ARE THE NUMBERS 112966.

I WAS TOLD THAT THIS CORONET IS SOLID SILVER WITH A GOLD BELL. IT HAS PEARL FINGER BUTTONS AND A FANCY DESIGN AROUND THE PRINTING UP TO THE MOUTH PIECE
CAN YOU HELP ME FIND OUT ANY INFO ON IT? LIKE IT'S WORTH AND YEAR IT WAS MADE. YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED

Answer
It isn't any older than the mid 1980s and probably closer to the early 1920s.  The serial number lists on Bessons are always suspect.  Fischer imported a bunch of Bessons.  

I would suspect that the horn is actually silverplate with a gold wash bell.  But, that is without inspecting it in person.