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104878 is 1917-1921; see

http://www.horn-u-copia.net/Bessonlist.html

frank language wrote:I bought a Besson "Prototype" last summer (from a guitar store!) and was told it was made around the 60s; it's apparently much older.

The serial number is 104878, with the number 16 below it; seems to me it might be from the early 20th century.

A lot of the Bessons of that era were called prototypes. I've had one pass through my hands (a mid-20's vintage 3-valve enharmonic compensator) that seemed to live up to the name: Some of the tubing seemed to be made of copper. I've seen very many Bessons sold on ebay with that designation.

Rick "hehehehe...he said 'ebay'" Denney

The "Prototype" is the term that they used to call their manufacturing process... the French-made Bessons had their bells stamped "Systeme Prototype".

This practice started in 1886.