Expert: Kenton Scott - 12/6/2009

Question
About 40 years ago I was given a trombone by my uncle just prior to his emigration to Australia.  During the early 1970's, I had a few lessons at school but these ceased when the teacher left.  I left home in 1982 and over the years became convinced that I had lost the instrument during a series of house moves.  However, upon my fathers death about four years ago, I had the arduous task of clearing our family home of possessions and amongst the detritus in a rarely visited box-room, was my old trombone!  I would therefore be grateful if you could shed some light on its history.
It's a 'Triebert' therefore probably made by Couesnon.  The name appears amongst an elaborate engraving on the horn with 'Paris' written beneath.  I remember my music teacher commenting that it was made around 1918, but I don't know how he came to that conclusion.  There is also an octagonal piece between the #?#bend #excuse my ignorance#, bearing the motif 'B%26H, London'.
The poor thing sports a few battle scars, the spring to the spit valve has perished and the case is rotten due to the extremes of temperature in the box room.
I have trawled the Internet but can find no definitive answers so thank you in anticipation.

Answer
The Triebert workshop was established in Paris in 1810, but they were primarily oboe makers, and are credited for being primiarily responsible for the development of the modern oboe. The company went into bankruptcy in 1881, and was bought by Gautrot Aine, who in turn was bought out by Couesnon.

It is likely that any brass instruments with the Triebert name are actually Couesnon. Couesnon is known to have used the Triebert tradeaname into the 30's.