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I am restoring a Holton 122 Sousaphone listed in the story below. It belonged to a tuba player named Adam Benik that moved from Lithuania around 1915. He played for the Czar of Russia before coming to the states. It is said that his playing won him a spot in the Sousa band shorty after arriving in New York. I am looking for any info of his career with Sousa and possibly a picture of the band with him as a member. I can't afford the $50 Sousa book and have looked around the web for related info. I found the serial number on the horn 229198 which allows that he might have actually used this horn with Sousa. The Holton list I found shows 229198 to date around 1918 but the same list shows Holton moved to Elkhorn in 1938. The horn says Elkhorn. I think Adam Benik moved to Baldwin County Alabama after Sousa's death. Adam Benik played in local bands in South Alabama from around 1935 - 1950. I found a relative but sadly the family has no early photos of this character. If anyone can lend any bits and pieces to this story I would really appreciate it.
Thanks, Tim Jackson
Tim Jackson bugler
bugler Posts: 26Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:34 pmLocation: Pensacola Florida



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Hi Tim,

An interesting project dating the horn and the player. You can probably get a copy of the Sousa book through interlibrary loan. At my public library it is free and I use it regularly. I don't know what serial number list you are using, but 229,xxx is 1951 on the two lists I have consulted. Six digits is a tip off, because most of the brass instrument manufacturers started out about 1890 or so and made small numbers of instruments until later in the 1900's. IDK of any US manufacturer who would have a 100,xxx serial number or later before about 1930. If you are talking about 22,xxx, that is 1915 for Holton. There will also be a different style of engraving in 1918 vs the 1950's. If you have much knowledge of vintage brass, you will see a different style of bracing, etc., too, in 1918 vs the 50's. So take a look at the horn and see whether it looks 60 years old or close to 95 years old. There may be some pictures of various Holton sousas at horn-u-copia, too.

You should be able to find a death date and maybe an obit for Adam Benik. I think you can get a week or two free use of Ancestry.com and they would have that kind of thing and maybe even a ship manifest where he immigrated. Ship manifests through NYC are available at the Ellis Island site, too.

Hope some of this helps you date the horn and find out more about Mr. Benik.

.

True, no Adam Benik in the book, but go here to the other thread on this issue:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=50812
and you will see that someone indicated that Adam Benik possibly played under the name of Emelio Bianco in the Sousa group.

Royjohn,

Thanks for posting that link. Paul and I go back many years, he is a good friend. There are few people indeex that know more about that era of music than he does.

As for Mr. Benik, I have no stake in whether he played with Sousa or not. I was simply stating something I found (or didn't find) in a book I happen to own, trying to help someone who doesn't own said expensive book.

BTW, Mr. Bierley's book is a must have for anyone interested in the Sousa Band and its era in music. It is absolutely the most thorough book of its kind I have ever seen.

Bob

Perhaps I was not entirely clear. What I was saying was that 229,xxx vs 22,9xx virtually eliminates 1918 as a year of manufacture. I was also thinking of Holton. But:

Conn:
10,xxx --- 1906/ 100,xxx --- 1923
20,xxx --- 1911/ 200,xxx --- 1928

White:
10,xxx --- ~1906/ 100,xxx --- ~1927
20,000 --- ~1909/ 200,xxx --- ~1937

Holton:
10,xxx --- ~1910/ 100,xxx --- ~1929
20,xxx --- ~1913/ 200,xxx --- ~1949

And so on . . . is there really a major American manufacturer who reached 200,xxx, or even 100,xxx, before 1920? You can see that, for the makers quoted above, the numbers are remarkably similar. . .I guess because these companies arose and prospered during a heyday of brass manufacture at around the same time periods.

O.K. I miss read the numbers. The Holton sousa was made in the 50s. In a newspaper article when the horn was dedicated to the local high school after his death it was mentioned that Adam Benik played for the Czar before moving the States. After his arrival, his playing landed him a position in the Sousa band. He later moved South... I figure after Sousa's death. I'm looking for any information to add to this story. The horn is in for repair at Badger Music/Elhorn. I choose Badger (Lee Stoffer's advice) in hopes that he will have the bone yard for any missing parts. receiver, bell screws, bell flange, neck & bits, lead pipe brace. Lee did a wonderful job on my 1960 5U miraphone I might add!!!!
After the horn is complete I will do a recital in Fairhope with the story as the theme. Thanks, for any help. Tim Jackson