Cornet, Besson & Co. Made in London c1913.
For sale is an antique Besson & Co cornet (made in London, England, c1913) with a leather Boosey and Co. carrying case from the same pre-war era.
Serial number: 95,815
Inscription on the cornet reads: “Class A, 50 Medals of Honour, Besson & Co., “Prototype”, 198 Euston Road, London, England, A P Sykes, Melbourne”
Condition is quite poor. The cornet has multiple dings, as pictured, and the mouthpiece is currently jammed. It is also missing it’s water key. It plays, so long as the water key hole is covered. The three valves work well and were all recently lubricated. Overall, it’s condition is quite good for an instrument 109 years old and been through two world wars!
The carrying case is in terrible condition and is falling apart. Being made of leather, I’m sure a cobbler could restore it to good usable condition.