Expert: Kenton Scott - 1/4/2010

Question
Hi,

I have an old trumpet that I've had lying around the house for awhile and I'm try to find out a little more about it. On the bell of the instrument it reads: Franco American, Made by, Couesnon & Cife, -PARIS-, above all of this is a shield with the initials FA inside of it.

I've tried to do some research on it but I cannot find much. I've found a company that made trumpets named Couesnon & Cie
(no F) but it looks as though the spelling on the bell is Cife. I'm assuming Franco American is the model of trumpet and I have not been able to find anything on that as well.

I also have what looks to be the original mouth piece and case, which is barely hanging on and looks very old, but neither of the two have writing to identify anything.

I've been looking over the trumpet to try and find any other identifying marks and all I can see is that the valves are numbered 1,2, and 3. Also, at the bottom of the number two valve it says C7

I was hoping you would know something about the instrument and why it seems the spelling on the bell is different than the way I've seen the companies name spelled.

Thank you very much.

Answer
Basically, I can confirm your findings.  

I suspect that the 'spelling' on your horn may simply be a decorative flourish.  And, it is actually Cie.  Here is my chart of Couesnon instruments:   http://www.horn-u-copia.net/display.php?selby=+where+maker%3D%22Couesnon%22  (If you click on the picture, you can see a larger image.)