Gustave Auguste Besson and his family manufactured brass musical instruments in France from 1837 and in England from 1857. In England the instruments were stamped "Besson & Co" between 1895 and 1904. The word ‘Prototype’ was stamped on all Besson instruments manufactured after 1885-86 and referred to the method of manufacture. This mouthpiece was found by Warren Bowen in 2017, in the vicinity of the former Linton Railway Station.Metal mouthpiece for a brass musical instrument, probably a cornet or trumpet. Consists of a "U"-shaped cup attached to a tapering shank. "BESSON & Co" and "Prototype" stamped on the shank.brass instruments, musical instruments, besson & co.

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in AustraliaA black and white photograph of a cornet player depicted in uniform. He wears a medal and holds a cornet. The person depicted is Frank Wright who was the winner of the Champion Cornet Solo at the Ballarat CompetionsPersonal marking "Truly Yours Frank Wright 1/1/1920". Enscription - Ballarat Competitions, 1919, Champion Cornet solo-F.Wright, 1st, Besson"New Creation" Cornetcornet player, frank wright, ballarat competitions, south street competitions

a. Black wooden case, brass handle on top of lid, brass hinges and lock, lined with black ( faded) velvet. B. Cornet, engraved with leaves and flowers. Engraved on top ' F. Besson, Brevetee, 198 Euston Road, London.' On bell ' Presented by the citizens to James Northcott Bandmaster of the Sandhurst Volunteer Band in recognition of his musical abilities. Sandhurst Dec. 8 1871. Cornet box contains 7 additional parts of the Cornet. ( see photo )F. Besson, Brevetee, 198 Euston Road, Londonmusical instruments, wind, cornet ( besson ), james northcott, sandhurst, volunteer band, bendigo, music, presentation

Refer to Portrait Cat 10056P.1. Silver cornet - with three tone buttons, silver plated with ornate engravings on the 'flare'. The three tone buttons are jamming and the seals are cracking up. 2. 'W' shaped tube, silver. 3. Mouthpiece - silver 4. Mouthpiece - silver 5. Mouthpiece - silver 6. Mouthpiece - silver 7. Mouthpiece - silver 8. Conductors baton, timber, shows two coloured timbers. 9. Cloth - for wiping, about size of a handkerchief in a dark colour. 10. Case - leather, black hinges and lockable lid. Lining is blue felt. It has leather pouches for varied mouth pieces. There is a leather handle on top and a strap is broken.1. Cornet - Class 'A' Proteano. On the centre tone cylinder is a manufacturers oval mark with words "Bresson & Co." Under that is the NR 101405. On the 3 tone cylinders are numbers 15, 14, 13. On the top of the 'flare' is "Class A Proteano" - Medals of Honour - Besson & Co. - Proto type 198 Euston Road, London, England. A star symbol then - A.P. SYKES - Melbourne" 3. Markings = stamped on mouthpiece "No FLJ", "Arban 4" and on opposite side = "Antoine - Courtoi - Brevette - 88 RWE DESPAYS" - "Paris". 4. Markings= "Modele Koenig" - and on opposite side = 'Antoine Courtois - Brevette - 88 R. Des. Marais, St Martin Paris. 5. Markings = 'Modele Koenig - Antoine Courtois - Brevette, 88 Rue Marais - St Martin Paris. 6. No markings 7. Mouthpiece markings = Antoine Courtois=Mille SR, 88 Rue Des Marais - St Martin, Paris France. 8. Baton. 9. Cloth - markings Boosey & Co's - famous Solbron Compensation piston - instruments. 295 Regent St, London W. 10. Case - Markings - painted on back in white paint = 3R ? (missing letters) ? ION, ??B? N? A.I.F. musical instrument, cornet, aif

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was appointed in 1934 as the Musical Director of the London County Council (the GLC or Greater London Council), where he organized many amazing concerts in most of the 150 parks, in and around the London district. He was also responsible for some of London’s major concerts at Kenwood, the Crystal Palace and Holland Park. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and Conducting and was a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. Frank was awarded an M.B.E. in 1967. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.Navy blue, light blue and white programme of The Boys' Brigade, Brass Band Festival Concert of the Massed Bands of the London District, held at the Royal Albert Hall on 28 January 1961. The band items were specially arranged for the Boys Brigade by Frank Wright who was the guest conductor. On the back of the programme is a short biography of Frank Wright.Written in pen on page 2 - Besson, Written in pen on page 3 - B & H, Encore, The Eshgrovefrank wright, boys brigade, massed bands of the london district, brass band, music programme