AboutMike Pawul Expertise I am familiar with most trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns. I can answer most questions about playing and musicality. Best of all, if I can't answer it directly I play regularly in five bands and have several "old timers" that are familiar with most things that I am not. I collect, repair, and refinish old horns and have sold over 350 with more than 230 on ebay
Experience I have played since 1965 and studied with many directors and trumpeters. I have been collecting since 2002 and have over 150 horns in my personal collection. I have done repair and refinsh since 2003 and have done over 500 horns.
Organizations Kosair Shrine Brass Band and Dance Band, The Notables, The Mello Tones, Bourbon City Brass Band,
River Cities Concert Band,
University of Louisville Community Band,
Member of Trumpet Players International Network (TPIN),
Bugles Across America (BAA),
Education/Credentials I played at Brunswick High School. I played through college and have a BS in Business Administration from Trinity College.
Awards and Honors Without being vain, numerous awards and have played in several honor bands.
Question We recently came across my grandfather's trumpet. We don't know if he had used in it WWI or in high school. The engraving on the horn is faded but it looks like it has a banner (writing illegible)
a monogram (perhaps a B),
F Besson
Dictotype
183 Custon Road
London England
It also has an oval insignia stated F Besson Brevete 47541. It is in a case which has a ribbon showing Henri Gautier Virtuoso.
Would you have any information on this trumpet?
Answer Lori, The horn is most likely a cornet and not a trumpet. The engraving shows the horn to be a London made Besson. The serial dates it to the mid 1890s. The case does not go with the horn but with a Gautier cornet which was made in mainland Europe. It is definitely a collector horn and if in mint shape would be worth about $300-700 depending on if the extra crooks and mouthpiece are with it.
