Besson Euph Piston Question

[Sharp]

FWIW, I had to buy a replacement valve for my 1960s Boosey & Hawkes Eb, the replacement came from a 1980s model instrument.

I would suspect euphoniums from the 60s and 70s would also be compatible. Windcraft was pretty quick at getting dimensions back to me when I asked for them.

[Dan Schultz]

Of course, the Besson name has been in the hands of the Buffet/Crampon Group for a while now. The parts situation is forever changing. Generally... the parts are not interchangeable mainly because the threaded parts have migrated through two or three threading systems. It makes sense that the pistons might interchange but I would not be willing to guarantee it. I will not order parts from Buffet/Crampon for anything except the current horns that were made by Meinl.

As far as I'm concerned... Windcraft is the authority on all matters vintage Besson.

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[Dan Schultz]

He is asking about two specific years because he has one horn and might buy the second for the parts, Dan. 1964 and 1974.

Those two years are most likely compatible but I wouldn't guarantee anything with Besson. Those were great horns but did have their trials and tribulations. Who's to say one of the valve sections has not been rebuilt? I'm a little more cautious than I was fifteen years ago!

[pgym]

Top of the line in 1964 would have been (what was eventually renamed and is commonly referred to as) the Imperial/New Standard. The Sovereign came out in mid-1974 and would have been the top of the line, relegating (at least for marketing purposes) the Imperial/New Standard (which was "upgraded" to large shank) to "second tier." The Imperial/New Standard would probably still have been considered top of the line on this side of The Pond, though.

Back in 2007 when I was considering buying a junker Besson comper for spare parts for my 1974 New Standard, I was advised by Mike Morse (repair tech at Tuba Exchange) that Imperial/New Standard pistons were not interchangeable with Sov pistons. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but I have no reason to doubt him.