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The Tom Lovitt material was copied from a post on the now defunct Benge Nut Guestbook, explaining:
From 1956 until 1962 I played trumpet in the Kansas City Philharmonic. During that time, and a few years after, I was the Benge dealer in Kansas City. Recently, I ran across the account book of some of my sales.
(1) According to Donald Benge, his father used serial numbers starting with 1500 for the large bore trumpets and Donald continued that into the 1900s, but could not go beyond #2000 as that would result in duplication. He started with about #500 (see below) and went straight forward except for numbers 1500 to about 1950 which would be large bores.
(2) Donald Benge recalls that it was about #3800 in 1952 when he moved from Chicago to Burbank.
(3) According to Pat Olguin, this horn might have been a Los Angeles horn originally. Zig remarked that he used to roll the "Burbank" die on re-belled Los Angeles horns for players who wanted it.
(4) According to Rick Dawson, Elden Benge told his son Donald that the serial number of the first Benge trumpet was 525. This was also verified to me insistently by Frank Kaderabek, who owns 528 and really wanted 527. But maybe not! Take a look at what may be Benge #520. Then there is Benge #500... wow...
(5) This horn was purchased by MaryLee Perkins after she played it at the NAMM show in 1972. Since it was a fairly rare C trumpet, it was likely made earlier, consistent with the other serial numbers, and likely hung around the shop for a while. There are other similar situations evident from the list, such as 6690.
(6) This horn was reported twice, once by Tom Lovitt as one of his sales, and once by the purchaser.
(7) For pictures of this extremely early Benge, and yet another bell hallmark, go here.
(8) Earliest MLP + found so far.
(9) The owner writes: The trumpet is in excellent condition and has been owned by me since about 1954. .I believe it might be the last Benge made in Chicago. My trumpet instructor at the National Music Camp, Interlochen, MI was Robert Grocock, who knew Elden Benge and had played in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with him. He made arrangements for me to acquire the instrument. Mr. Benge was ready to move to Burbank, and the trumpet was actually mailed to me from Burbank.
(10) Madge Bruner Hazen purchased this horn when she was playing in the Jacksonville Symphony in 1968. She became seriously ill in 1982-83 and sold it to a man in Jacksonville who collected trumpets. About two weeks later, he died. She has no idea what his name was, though he had family in NYC. She wants to buy that trumpet back. Anybody who knows anything about it, please write her at: mbhazen@comcast.net.
(11) Rumored to be the last horn made under the personal supervision of Elden Benge, according to the owner.
(12) Formerly owned by Bernie Adelstein, principal trumpet for the Cleveland Orchestra from 1960 to 1988, and heard on many recordings.
(13) This horn was purchased by Tom Nicholson while the bell was flattened and the horn was hanging on the wall, surrounded by a frame, it's own kind of masterpiece. It has been restored and is beautful. For before and after pictures, go here.
(14) My father Eugene Caselli bought his Benge trumpet on May 20, 1946. I'm not sure what model it is as it's not marked on the Original Receipt that i have from Benge himself at the 1945 Morse address . My father paid $208.50 with a case and mouthpiece which i also still have . This trumpet was my father's pride and joy which he played all his life until the day before he passed in 1995 at the age of 82. He played with all the big bands through the 30s and 40s from the Chicago area and even played with the Harry James Band for a short time.
(15) The Burbank bell was severely damaged and replaced with a Los Angeles bell.
(16) Possibly the first Benge sold in the UK, according to the owner.
(17) This horn has the Burbank address, but the music staff logo.
(18) The Benge body has a six inch tunable bell made by Martin, engraved with "Martin USA" and 'Mic Gillette.' It is thought to be one of the prototypes of what became the Martin Magna made for Gillette.
For serial numbers between 10,000 and 45,000, go here.
For serial numbers above 45,000 (the Eastlake Ohio Benges), I don't know where you should go. I'm told there is a code in the serial numbers (either six or eight digits) that reveals the year of manufacture, but nobody has told me the code.
If you have a Benge trumpet or cornet with a serial number under 10,000, and you know when it was purchased new by the original owner or know when it was manufactured, please let me know the serial number, year, model, and location as stated on the bell.
Thanks.
© 2001-2008 by James F.
Donaldson
All rights reserved