Value of Benge pocket trumpet

[Dieter Z]

Just go approached by a friend to help him to sell one of his two Benge pocket trumpets. He used to live part time in Spain and part time in the UK. Now since he sold out in Spain and is living full time in the UK, he wants to unload one of his Pocket trumpets. (preferable the re-plated one)

Both are 'real' Benge pocket trumpets (Resno-Temperd Bell) NOT UMI.

Both are silver.

One is used a lot and it shows.

The other one just came back from a re-plating job, new felts, corks etc. Etching on the bell writing is still very sharp. Only thing I can see wrong with it is a somewhat 'curved' leadpipe.

Tried to search online, but most Benge pocket trumpets I saw sold or for sale are UMI Benges.

So your 'appraisal' will be appreciated.
_________________
B & H Sovereign 928
Conn 80A
F. Besson Brevette Kanstul made
B&S Challenger II 3137 rl
Buescher 400 - 225 (WWII)
Benge 90C
Eastman 540 D/Eb
ACB Fluegelhorn
Selmer Picc
ACB mouthpieces for most of my playing

[Dieter Z]

Anyone have a 'ballpark figure'?
_________________
B & H Sovereign 928
Conn 80A
F. Besson Brevette Kanstul made
B&S Challenger II 3137 rl
Buescher 400 - 225 (WWII)
Benge 90C
Eastman 540 D/Eb
ACB Fluegelhorn
Selmer Picc
ACB mouthpieces for most of my playing

[Bill Blackwell]

I'll take a stab at it.

I've owned several pocket trumpets over the years, including the Pocket Max, Marcato, and Kanstul. Benge pockets don't come up for sale often (especially the non-UMI models), so it is difficult to say. However, the Kanstul model 905 pocket is a direct descendant of the Benge.

In my experience, due to the tight wrap, .460 pockets play with quite a bit of resistance; once you feel it there's no getting around it. About 10-years ago I was offered a Benge CG pocket (.468 bore) for $1,000. Although these are relatively rare I turned it down as, at least at the time, it sounded like too much.

The Kanstul sells new in the $1,600 range, which is substantially more than most others in its class - although, as apposed to the others, it is 100% made in America. The Marcato/Max pockets (along with other "labels" made in the same factory in Taiwan) can be had for around $700 new, and I have to say (unfortunately) they are every bit as good as the Kanstul as to playability and resistance. I've never owned or played a Carol pocket (similar price range), but I doubt they'd be any better or worse.

Having said all that, based on other viable alternatives, I'd have to say somewhere in the neighborhood of $600 would be as much as I'd be willing to pay for the Benge.

Personally, based on the resistance in all of the .460 models, I'd much rather have that CG model with the larger bore for $1,000. Kanstul will build you their 905 in a .470 bore for about a $100 upcharge. In the absence of the availability of the CG model, it might be a viable option (if I were in the market for a pocket trumpet).
_________________
Bill Blackwell
Founder - Sons of Thunder Big Band Machine

Wild Thing Bb - Copper
Wild Thing Flugelhorn - Copper
Wild Thing Short-Model Cornet - Copper

The future ain't what it used to be. ...
- Yogi Berra

[Bill Blackwell]

[Dieter Z]

Thanks Bill.

The bell engraving looks just like the one in the photo minus the 3.

The UMI engraving I know looks much different, so I assumed that it was an 'original' Benge.

I played it for only a few minutes, but I do not recall it having a lot of resistance. What stood out to me was that it played very easy in the upper register and had a very full bottom.
_________________
B & H Sovereign 928
Conn 80A
F. Besson Brevette Kanstul made
B&S Challenger II 3137 rl
Buescher 400 - 225 (WWII)
Benge 90C
Eastman 540 D/Eb
ACB Fluegelhorn
Selmer Picc
ACB mouthpieces for most of my playing

[Bill Blackwell]

[chapahi]

[Dieter Z]

[John Mohan]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Awesome-Benge-Bb-Pocket-trumpet-NEAR-MINT-NO-RESERVE/183063414387?_trkparms=aid%3D777003%26algo%3DDISCL.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D44039%26meid%3D2c174b2f68b44f558c3d8ac801e2bd12%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Des%26sd%3D183079271524%26itm%3D183063414387&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985

Sold for $1025 and it's just a UMI horn from 1995.

An L.A. Benge Pocket trumpet in good condition is worth at least $1500 and maybe more.

I contacted Robb Stewart many years ago about what it would cost to convert a CG Trumpet in decent condition into a pocket trumpet. I think he quoted me around $3500 and that was nearly ten years ago.

[John Mohan]