The Triebert workshop was established in Paris in 1810, but they were primarily oboe makers, and are credited for being primiarily responsible for the development of the modern oboe. This indicates the last two digits of the year made Production of flugelhorns is about 50-60 a year.Īn important part of the engraving is the small number (in a circle, or pineapple) which often follows the words on the bell. They make three flugelhorn models, 137 Tradition, which is the small one, 142 Monopole, and 144 which is the 4 valve version. All of the Couesnon instruments are handmade. Production facilities are old-fashioned and the employees are skilled hand craftsmen. Only silverplating and case making are done elsewhere. The company is all situated in one building, containing office, manufacturing, storage, and lacquering. They have two daughters Sophie and Isabelle. The company is now a very small family owned business whose ownership is found in the companys name, P.G.M. Unfortunately all the mandrels and tooling needed for the making of C, Bb and piccolo trumpets had been stolen, so the workshop is making only brass band instruments, such as the flugelhorn, cornet, tuba, a true French French horn, with piston valves and extended stems for left hand operation, hunting horns, and a natural trumpet (Jeanne of Arc model) and military bugles, bass bugles, cavalry trumpets. Their most popular products are hunting horns and tambour drums mainly for the French market. bought the name, the tooling, and the factory to give it new life. Today the company has only 25 employees working in its sole shop. In 1978, the contract with Gretch to import Couesnon instruments to the United States was terminated and new Couesnon instruments have been very rare in the US since that time. The fire resulted in loss of all the company records, including those which would make it possible to determine the year of manufacture from the serial number. They made a line called Monopole Conservatoire of higher quality instruments, but their marketing proved ineffective and factories were sold off and in 1969 the main factory was badly damaged by fire, destroying the archives. Starting in the 60 s and during the next 20 years, Couesnon tried to expand its share in markets other than marching bands. 1Īt the end of World War II, the music business started to change, but Couesnon continued to deal primarily with the special needs and instruments of brass and military bands. They made many horns which were imported into the United States, including many that were sold under the names of music stores and other private labels. When this is present, the number in side of the design is the year ofīut, by 1927 they were down to a workforce of 200.ĭuring the 1930s they began catering to marching brass bands, and gradually became almost the only supplier of marching brass instruments in France. Note the 'pineapple' or 'Grenade' at the bottom of the logo.

Couesnon paris trumpet serial numbers