Besson 993 Bb design change?

[P@rick]

Hi all,
My father and I sit next to each other in our band (Fanfare) and we both play a Besson 993 Bb (the front action one).
It's already quite a while that we play the same Besson but only now I noticed that there was a slight difference.
Both Bessons are 100% identical except for the 2nd valve slide. It's wrapped/angled different. See picture:

Does anyone know something about this change? (Improvement, another factory, or else?)

Thanks!

[iiipopes]

I've noticed the same thing on the Jupiter 582 2nd valve. On that tuba, it looks like it was angled up so water would drain. Does that appear to be the case with the two Bessons?

[P@rick]

You have a point iiipopes.

In playing position:
The one on the right (probably the older one of the two) has the 2nd valve slide angled horizontally.
The one left has the 2nd valve slide angled down letting the water drain into the valve slide instead of draining it back into the valves.