Besson 10-10 Trombone Serial Number Location

[walldaja]

Greetings! I played a Besson 10-10 trombone from 66-69. After high school I foolishly sold it to my best friend. I've been searching for one ever since just for nostalgia. Found one this week! Always a toss of the dice to buy a really old horn--slide may be nice or junk.

Got it from an antique shop and they said it was played by a local "pro". Other than a small crunch on the bell and general lacquer loss it's in pretty good shape.

That said, I can't find the serial number. Any clues where they may hide it?

Thanks

[walldaja]

Of course, without pictures it didn't happen. My horn was all silver plate--in the 60s Salvation Army bands were pretty much 100% silver instruments.

This one is quite playable. Needs new corks in the barrels and water key.

[ithinknot]

Underside of the bell stem, to the right of the flange. 6 digit serial, and probably L.P. for low pitch.

[walldaja]

Ithinknot, thanks! Never thought to look there.

Seems it is 1957 mfg date. The thing is a tank, heavier than my King 607F.

[stewbones43]

Good to see someone else with an interest in the Besson 10-10s!

I have a 1958 vintage 10-10 which has had an F section fitted probably by Paxmans the British French Horn maker. It is a very versatile horn, used mostly for 3rd part in a big band but also useful for pit orchestra and some classical settings. Also a good small combo horn.
Yes, they were built like tanks, as were all the Boosey & Hawkes/Besson brass instruments because the catered mostly for the British and Commonwealth brass and military bands. The instruments were made to withstand hard usage and sometimes a lack of care! They make good marching band instruments!!!

Your 10-10 is the rarer, "Gilding Metal" bell model (a bronze or gold brass alloy)
If you Google "1958 Besson Catalogue" You will find some information about the 10-10 range and other brass instruments exported to the US by Besson. The 10-10 bass trombone is mentioned and is a badge engineered version of the Besson Academy 409, small bass which I have in my stable.

Cheers and enjoy.

Stewbones43

[walldaja]

Horn was ready for pickup today! I wanted to see it but I was afraid I might be disappointed by the result. My biggest concern was the slide appearance wise--it was scratched and the nickel was worn where the previous player put his hand when he opened the water key. It had worn down to the brass subsurface.

Buckeye Brass did an incredible job! The tech told me that the slide lost a lot of lacquer during the ultrasonic cleaning and said he could polish it up and put a new coat of lacquer on it. The slide no longer looks 65 years old!

Couldn't wait to get it home to play it. Suddenly I was back in 1968 playing in a bunch of bands.

My big shock came when the bill was much lower than I anticipated--$95!

Left the bell untouched except for removing a wrinkle, I liked the patina.