'Besson-forme horn' (?). Nominal pitch: F|/|E♭|/|D.

Gustave Besson

Instrument

Alto saxhorn

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Gustave Besson

Place Made

Paris; Europe; France; Western Europe

Description

Technical description: Brass; wrap with slight bend in the bellpipe resulting in the axis of the bell being at an angle to the axes of the valves and tuning-slides; French bell rim.Fitting for music-card holder; no water-key., , , , , , , , , , , , , Valve type: 3 Périnet valves, bottom-sprung with alignment by key on piston.,

Other Information

General usage of type: According to Eugenia Mitroulia (PhD Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2011, p.63 and p.126), Besson sold saxhorns illegally to the army after December 1854 in contravention of Sax's patent, calling them 'Besson-forme' horns. According to his wife, he changed the direction of the bell so that his instruments deviated from the Sax's saxotromba form. This instrument appears to be a example of this design, but as no other example is known or can be positively identified as 'Besson-forme' there remains some doubt.,

Notes

arnold myers (bore measurements) 1.11.14, description 23.7.16.

Measurements

from plane of bell to large bow 560; bell 170.

Provenance

on loan to the Collection.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

6376