#BENGE TRUMPET SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP FULL SIZE#
#BENGE TRUMPET SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP FULL#

#BENGE TRUMPET SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP FULL#

This is the same as on the full length versions at 4 3/4'. The last two photos represent the later production Benge pocket trumpets, the most noticeable difference is the larger bell rim diameter. Nick DeCarlis, current owner of Irv's pocket trumpet, states in his, they are the gold standard for modern pocket trumpets.

#BENGE TRUMPET SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP FULL SIZE#

All later Benge pocket trumpets have full size bell rims (4 3/4'). I should also comment that imperfect curves in brass instruments don't seem to be detrimental to the acoustics in that instrument. He was able to refine the bending step and later and Benge pocket trumpets made in the 1970s are very well done. I've gotten pretty good at bending bells and other tubing, but it has taken many years to become proficient.Д«enge foreman, Lou Duda, was known to complain about how much more work was involved in making these than standard trumpets, taking twice the time and then sold for the same price. Also, the curves in the bell and mouthpipe are more crudely done than we are accustomed to in Benge instruments. I know from experience that it is very difficult to measure curved tubing length with precision.

Both have extended tuning slide assemblies, indicating that the original calculation for length was a bit short. With consecutive serial numbers, they were obviously made at the same time and show some minor engineering problems. In both cases the finish is original: Irv's is gold plated, Bob's is lacquered and has suffered a little more wear and damage. They are 9 1/2' long with bell rim diameters of 3 7/8' and bores measuring. These two trumpets are virtually identical, aside from the first slide trigger/hook and finish. If anybody knows the whereabouts of this trumpet, I would love to hear from you. He bent this bell and fitted it to a Benge valve section, making his first pocket trumpet, this one predating the two featured here by about two years. Lou didn't want to risk ruining a good Benge bell and had a spare Olds bell hanging above his bench. While Bob was working at Benge in 1966, trumpeter George Guidi asked Lou Duda to make him a Benge pocket trumpet. I learned an even more obscure fact in a conversation with Bob Reeves. Keith still owns his along with one of the others that was made before Benge closed the Burbank shop. In October of 1970, three more pocket trumpets were made for made for Los Angeles Salvation Army band members Randy Stillwell, Karey Fistrup and Keith Snell. During those days, Bob and Irv always played the cornet parts, and Mario and I did the trumpet ones, and, in fact, again if memory serves, when conductors insisted on cornets, they always used the 'pockets,' and I don't recall ever seeing them playing cornets when cornets were called for-and no conductor, even those conductors who generally knew what they were doing, were ever the wiser!' Bob and Irv also used those instruments for the orchestra's recording of Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture. Bob instead used the pocket trumpet, which he convinced Zubin was a cornet and Bob got away with it. When we did Stravinsky's Petrouchka, Zubin insisted that Bob use a cornet for the Ballerina's Dance and Waltz. Tommy recounted to his good friend Mike Zonshine that all four Los Angeles Philharmonic enjoyed and made use of these pocket trumpets: 'Side story: During the years, 1966-72, the orchestra made several recordings for London/Decca. Later, Benge made two more pocket trumpets for Tommy Stevens and Mario Guarneri. They were both known to take these trumpets with them on vacations in order to get a little practice in.ДЄ few years later, Boyde became very close friends with Irv and spent many happy hours talking about trumpets and experiences that they had in the business.

The second (currently in Boyde Hood's collection) was made for Robert DiVall, Irv's section mate in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the time. The first was made for Irving Bush, who worked with Benge on a consulting basis,В on new model design. These are the first two pocket trumpets made by Benge in 1968 (This date conflicts with the serial number list available on the Internet, but we are confident that it is accurate).

Benge trumpet serial number lookup