This horn has all of the bells and whistles: 1st and 3rd valve-slide triggers, Nickel-Silver outer slide tubes and it is one of Besson's rare models with the bell made of "Guilding" alloy (which is 95% copper). This produces a "rich and mellow" sound, according to the 1958 product brochure, which provides a symphonic sound quality. From 1954 until the 1990's, the Besson company was part of Boosey and Hawkes and shares serial numbering with B&H instruments and is how we dated this instrument to 1958.

Valves are in excellent condition providing excellent compression, smooth action, an axial valve alignment and new valve guides.