Horn-u-Copia

An Index to Besson Instruments



If you note any discrepancies, or have additional information concerning this company, please contact us here at Horn-u-copia.



year Paris London Trombones
1858 001
1869 001 9695
1870 10794
1871 11939
1872 13109
1873 14335
1874 10001 16026 677
1875 17600 751
1876 14001 20360 849
1877 948
1878 1038
1879 24144 25260 1091
1880 26890 1144
1881 28530 1284
1882 26001 30160 1374
1883 31800 1516
1884 30001 33430 1657
1885 35070 1848
1886 35500 2052
1887 36001 38432 2293
1888 39258 2527
1889 40001 41885 2752
1890 44231 3106
1891 46778 3373
1892 49432 3681
1893 51837 3941
1894 50001 542141 4234
1895 55000 4463
1896 59442
1897 61796
1898 63000
1899 65747
1901 68001
1903 76000
1905 69001
1906 70001
1908 9000
1909 90000
1911 77501 93000
1912 9950
1914 100200
1916 10800
1917 101500
1919 11600
1920 82001
1921 111500
1924 12600
1931 124350
1934 87001 130001
1935 13950
1940 14660
1944 130000
1948 135001
1952 741116
1966 86825
1972 103908

For English Bessons, from 1954, use the Boosey &Hawkes list
In the French list, there is a conflict of the estimates.

year       London
1986 744000 Last official number?
1993 820xxx parts  were sent to Courtois for assembly
1994 manufacture of low brass transferred to B&S, Courtois for cornets and alto horns.
1997 852299
1998 865491
2001 Production moved to Besson plant in Croxley Green (Watford) where Schreiber parts were briefly used (Schreiber and Besson were part of the same company). After a very short spell using Schreiber parts, all Bessons were fully made in house at the 2 facilities and continue to.
2003 B&H sell out to The Music Group
2005 (December) Buffet Crampon acquired Besson. Mannufacturing moved to France (Courtois factory in Amboise) and Germany (B&S factory in Markneukirchen). 1000 series instruments made in India, otherwise all were made at B&S.
2012 06300012 (December) B&S was purchased by and is now are part of the Buffet Group

From 2006, first two digits are the year of manufacture.

Another source for information on Besson is the Werden Serial Number List

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