Expert: Kenton Scott - 6/6/2009

Question
The complete inscription on this silver plated and it looks like the inside of the bell might have been gold or lacqured brass "Hors Concours Gautrot Aine & Co. Brevetes S.G.D.G Paris France Exposition Universelle de Paris. I haven't found a serial number where I would expect, only "France" engraved on the mouthpiece receiver.I have had it for 50 years and it was old before I got it.

Answer
Gautrot was in business from 1845-1885 in Paris. Gautrot was a major litigant against Sax, which was finally decided in Sax's favor. In 1875 he registered trade names of Gautrot-Marquet, and Gautrot Aine. Firm was renamed Gautrot Aine-Durand et Cie in 1877. Couesnon became proprietors in 1883. Couesnon sometimes used the names of the companies they took over as trade names for a while.

So, my best guess is that your horn was likely made between 1875 and 1877.  I would suspect that the inner bell was gold plated, not lacquered.  You probably won't find a serial number on it.  

I don't off hand know when the France Exposition Universelle de Paris was, but one can be certain that the horn was made sometime after that.  

Also, The McKinley Act of 1891 required that all instruments brought to the U.S.  be labeled with information on where it was manufactured. So, if it was an import, that may set the date a bit later.