Elden Benge began his professional trumpet career in the 1920s and was principal trumpet in the Detroit Symphony from 1928 until 1933 at which time he took the same position in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. During these years he experimented with trumpet design and began building complete trumpets by 1935.
To be considered a genuine Benge trumpet, i.e. Following the original design of is creator, Eldon Benge, it must have been made in Chicago, Burbank, or in Los Angeles. Some purists even limit the Los Angeles trumpets to a certain serial number.
He had played French Besson trumpets up to the time that he made his own which are closely modeled after them. The (or one of the) Besson(s) that he used as a model is shown. A very complete and well researched history of Benge's early activities has been written by for collecting and disseminating all things Benge.
This trumpet, built in about 1939, is serial number 637. Assuming that #500 was Benge's first trumpet and used all the numbers in between, this is the 138th Benge trumpet. It is the 30th earliest known to Joe Lill and the earliest medium bore. The bore measures.453' which was one of the two bore sizes used by Besson in France, the other being approximately.460'. The bell rim diameter is 4 11/16' and the overall length is 19 1/2' (19' from bell rim to bell curve). It was originally silver plated; traces of the plating can be seen in corners. The refinishing in lacquer must have been done many years ago and is in very good condition other than where a plastic valve cover has damaged it.
All of the parts are original accepting the adjustable finger ring on the third slide. This trumpet was made, like the Besson trumpets from the period, with the ring on the bottom of the third slide where the (broken) stop rod assembly is now and the stop rod was originally on top. A great many of the early Benge and Besson trumpets have been modified in this way over the years.
The Lifton case and cover shown may be the original from new. The canvas cover has helped preserve it to a remarkable degree. Benge moved from Chicago to Burbank, California in 1953, continuing and expanding production and models. He tragically died in a car wreck in 1960 and his son, Donald continued running the shop until 1972. At this time he sold the company to King Musical Instruments. A new factory was built in Anaheim, California and opened in 1973.
Benge trumpets reached their zenith of popularity in the 1970s and 1980s with popular figures such as Herb Alpert and Claude Gordon using them exclusively and promoting them. For a variety of reasons, Benge trumpets have lost popular favor even though some great players still swear by them. After expanding the range of trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn models available and including trombones in the 1990s, the parent company pared back and offered the pocket and piccolo trumpets.
They have discontinued these and there are no longer any new Benge instruments available. On the up side, Zig Kanstul, who ran the Benge plant in Anaheim, introduced 'Burbank' and 'Chicago' model instruments that are almost exactly the same as the original models.
Even after Zig's death, these are still available.
-:: Author Message drboogenbroom Heavyweight Member Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 666 Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:28 am Post subject: Identifying a Benge Hey guys. I have a co-worker who's husband has an Benge trumpet that he played for a few years back in school. They are looking to sell it and asked me to look around for some info on it. The horn is an LA Benge with MLP stamped on the second valve casing.
The bell says 'Resno-Tempered Bell, Custom Built by E. Benge, LA Calif.' I've seen many of you guys referring to your Benges as being 3X, 3X+, 5X etc. But I can't find any marking of that sort on this horn. I've look at some pictures of other horns of this make and it looks like that identifier typically gets stamped on the bell, but it isn't anywhere on this one.
Can anyone take a stab at helping me out with a little more info about this horn and it's likely specs? Thanks much, Kevin By concentrating on precision, one arrives at technique, but by concentrating on technique one does not arrive at precision. Bruno Walter lanier Regular Member Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 36 Location: Carrollton, GA Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:43 am Post subject: There are a number of websites that provide almost any fact about Benge trumpets that you would want. Is a gopd place to start.
The MLP indicates a.464 bore that it is probably a 3X+ horn. You can confirm that by looking at the inside of the ferrule that connects the bell to the first valve. The bell number is stamped there - or in later years the bell number is stamped on the bell flare but in this case you didn't mention it when you quoted the engraving. Some of the websites will allow you to date the horn by the serial number. Blake Lanier shofarguy Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 6208 Location: AZ Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:52 am Post subject: Kevin, There are really only two possibilities, unless it just happens to be a custom 'Who Knew' sort of trumpet.
Most likely it is a 3X+, but it is possible it is a 2X+. MLP means it is a.464' bore horn. You can determine the bell by looking on the bottom of the little fitting (ferrule) that connects the bell to the first valve. It should have a number stamped on it; probably a '3'. The '2' bell is much, much rarer. Since this horn has no bell stamp (a simple '3', '2', or whatever) in the brand, it was manufactured before 1976.
Since it says 'Los Angeles' and not Burbank, It was made after 1969. The serial number located on the second valve casing should be between 10,000 and 20,000. If it is lower than that, it is one of a very short run of horns (400 +/-) made when Donald Benge moved the 'factory' to a place in the City of Los Angeles. Later, it was relocated to Fullerton, but was still referred to as Los Angeles. There you go! If your friend is interested in more information, he can go online to Joe Lill's website and read more history.
Joe has a registry, too. My recently sold 5X is in there, btw. It is the earliest known 5X with the model stamped on the bell brand. Joe's site is: Brian Brian A. Douglas Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds. Display posts from previous: - All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum.