French Horn in F (Besson)

Catalogue number: 9.1

Original name: French horn in F.

Maker: Besson.

Place of origin: Paris, c.1858-1869.

Catalogue A puts 1820-74 as dates of making.

Overall size: 413mm (measured with bell facing down); bell: 27.9mm.

Technical description: Brass body with 3 P茅rinet valves. Seven crooks: 1. F, broad bore, may be original, four repair plates purfling on entry pipe matches the instrument; 2. F, medium bore, by Higham, Manchester, stamped 鈥楩鈥� on entry pipe, 鈥淛. HIGHAM L [?] / MAKER鈥�; 3. F, medium/narrow bore, stamped 鈥楩鈥� on raised plate on entry pipe, heavily soldered repaired; 4. A flat (plays flat a鈥� = 437 Hz), no markings; 5. A flat, scratched on entry pipe 鈥淎 flat [flat sign] HP鈥�, matches crook no.4; 6. Semitone pipe inscribed 鈥淪EMI-TONE / L.P.鈥�; 7. semitone pipe inscribed 鈥淪EMI-TONE / H.P.鈥�.

Inscription: Engraved on Bell: 鈥淎pproved / BY / HERR K艗NIG / GB / (inside floral design: BESSON / Brevet茅 / 7 RUE DES / 3 COURONNES / A PARIS ) / JULLIEN & Co. / Sole Agents / 214 Regent Street鈥�. Herman K艙nig was a famous cornet and post horn player.

Cases, etc: Wooden case, possibly original.

Faults: Numerous dents. Crack at the end of the main tuning slide.

Repair history: Numerous repair patches.

Usable pitch: Plays at a鈥� = 440 Hz.

Illustration references: See below.

Recording references: Click

Previous owner: Sir Granville Bantock. This instrument was used by Bantock when he was a student at the Royal Academy of Music, from 1888.

Previous collection numbers: A: Item 120.