Besson 5-Valve Euph

MikeS · Post by **MikeS** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:51 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Antique-BESSON ... dZViewItem

Looks like valves one through four are pretty standard and the fifth is, maybe, a flat whole step. Does anyone know for sure?

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:38 pm

Most probably, you're right--French saxhorns are set up that way or with the 5th descendng a fifth--and that's clearly not what this one has. I wonder if this beast might be better characterized as a saxhorn.

http://www.courtois-paris.com/panneaubrasssax.html

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:04 pm

Looks a lot more like a 1/2 step to me...

Maybe just a "poor-man's" compensator.

Besson had both the Blaikley system and their own by the time this was built.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:55 pm

Yeah, looking at the plumbing again, I believe you're right.

Well, we always wondered where the heck the Indians got the idea for the weird 4th valve on their euphoniums...

Shoot, I can't even find one on eBay now.