Horn-u-Copia's Display of Makers

Gustave Besson was a master of acoustics who in 1837, at the age of eighteen, produced and registered a new model cornet which was recognized as superseding all previous instruments of its kind, but sales were difficult due to heavy competition from Sax, Courtois, and Gautrot. The immediate success was a prelude to a lifetime of work during which over fifty inventions relevant to wind instruments were accredited to him and patented.Besson started his company by 1838 in Paris.

Established in London in 1857.

Besson died in 1874 and his daughter - Marthe took over In 1880, she married husband - Adolphe Fontaine and changed the name of the firm to Fontaine-Besson. She sold the London company in 1894.

The French instruments that were designed by Martha have F. Besson and a monogram with F-B (Fontaine Besson) entwined. In 1908, the Fontaine-Bessons both died and their daughter- Mathilde took over.

In the 1930s, Strasser Margaux & Lemaire produced Besson (Paris) instruments with Aubertin making the valves, bells, and final assembly. In 1957, Couesnon bought the firm.

The merger of Boosey & Co. with Hawkes & Son in 1930 gave rise to the world-renowned Boosey & Hawkes company which also encompassed Besson in 1948.

Besson trumpets and trombones of the 1970s were apparently made by Couesnon.

in 1981, B&H bought Buffet Crampon but they continued their French operation, and the serial numbers were separate. After the collapse of B&H, Buffet Crampon again became independent and in 2006 acquired Besson

1997 saw the formation of a joint venture between Boosey & Hawkes and Nadirali Band Instruments in India giving rise to Boosey & Hawkes Pvt Ltd. A brand new factory was built in Gulauthi, near Delhi where manufacturing commenced and flourished resulting in the production of award-winning instruments. This company is now known as Besson Musical Instruments Pvt Ltd.

In 2001, Boosey & Hawkes Musical Instruments Ltd. moved from Edgware to Watford with the component parts manufacture moving to Markneukirchen, Germany. In February 2003 Besson became part of The Music Group, a company formed to acquire the instrument manufacturing companies that were formerly part of the Boosey & Hawkes Group.



Table of Besson Trombone Models

Listings of Besson Models