Studentiphonium ? A very good new name. But nevertheless,
there are several cheap brand horns in the world, which do
not sound bad, in contrary, they (at the lips of a good
player) even sound better than other very expensive
instruments (sometimes). But Klaus´ evaluation is quite
right. Also thanks for providing the historical background
to the list once again.
But one has to remember, that very well known makers had to
participate at this state owned conglomerate in
Markneukirchen: Knopf, Moennig, Kruspe. They had no other
choice. Today they are on their own again. Even during GDR
times they produced fine horns at very moderate prices.
Their problem was it, that they did not get the earned hard
currency, but the GDR internationally worthless money. And
they would have bought the best brass material from the West
if they could. So they had to sneak between the regulations.
Fortunately, they gained their independency after the
unification of Germany can continue their trade now
successfully.
==
-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Klaus Bjerre
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 1:37 PM
To: The Horn List
Subject: RE: [Hornlist] Hey, This Looks Pretty Much Like
Alexander 103
Actually there may be a historical explanation for the
similarities between the Besson 408 (which is a student line
instrument) and the Alexander 103 of world fame.
Just about 3 years ago Hans and I discussed this on basis of
a similar instrument engraved Weltklang. I cannot navigate
the archives of the list, so I will repeat the main points
of the discussion. Even if Hans is a few years older than me
and is a born Austrian (I am a born Dane), we both have
experienced the unbelievable poverty of post-war Austria and
Germany. We both have an immense interest in post-war German
history. And we both have experienced on a first hand basis
the ridiculousness of travelling the GDR.
When Besson/BooseyHawkes gave up producing the old style
British piston horns, they turned to Warsaw Pact countries
to have their rotary valved horns made.
GDR was the technological leader of the Warsaw Pact, but
still it was way behind the West. No Warsaw Pact currency
was convertible with the US$, which the GDR needed badly, if
for nothing else then for the Volvos for the top communist
cadres. So the GDR had a currency acquiring scheme
(Devisenbeschaffungsmaßnahmen), where they would violate any
Western patent.
Under the name of Schneider the GDR state owned conglomerate
later known as BS produced horns for the British B/BH
brands.
One of the models was a blatant rip-off of the Alexander 103
design. They were fine instruments, but didnt sound quite
like Alexanders. They missed the Alexander bite at loud
dynamics.
The horn presented by the original poster puzzles me a bit.
According to my level of information Besson solely uses Lidl
as a horn supplier today, and I never saw a Czech made 103
copy.
If the list should express interest in me expanding on
another sort of GDR violating the Alex 103 patent, then I
may do so.
But for now I think, that I have provided the historical
background telling, why the Alex 103 can be found in an ever
so crude re-incarnation as a Besson Student model.
Hans is the horn designer among the two of us, I am the
person, who luckily is on a speedy recovery from a blindness
induced by a medicine allergy (just to learn, that I have a
cataract situation developing a bit too fast, but that can
be handled). Still I am enough of a graphical person to
dismiss the perspective of the originally presented photo as
a basis for a very precise evaluation of relative dimensions
of this Besson studentiphonium.
Klaus
or with my extended signature:
My download homepage has a link for the index of all my
uploaded music files. You can download them for free, when I
have received your reply to my Welcome-mail. Players
already approved for the group in question of course have
direct access.
Klaus Bjerre of Denmark
Retired teacher
Index over 45MB+ of free music files in .pdf format to be
found in the Files area of:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YorkMasterBBb/
(Approved membership required)
Index over 2.2GB of brass instruments galleries and
catalogue scans to be found in the Files area
of:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YorkMasterPublicPhotosIII/
(Membership is open for all)
--- Hans [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Leadpipe a bit too long, slide on change valve longer than
Alex103,
valve slides somewhat different. I dont know if Alexander
ever renewed
their patent, but I doubt as they even did not own a copy
of their
patent for the 103. They got a copy from my patent
collection.
-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of
Alan Cole
