Posted by Patrick Sheridan on May 07, 2001 at 12:52:35:
In Reply to: Re: Re: New Besson 995 CC--Any News? posted by Guy in Boulder on May 07, 2001 at 12:29:09:
Boosey & Hawkes has employed Walter Nirschl as a design/manufacturing consultant for the last few years. In the "getting to know you" process that has naturally occured, B&H decided to purchase the designs of Walter's horns, but instead of making the parts by hand (hand hammering the bell, bottom bend, leadpipe and branches) B&H will mass produce these instruments and make parts with hydraulic presses. (just like other large manufacturers.)
The cost difference is:
1. money saved by labor costs. It takes much longer to make a hand made instrument than to make one with parts drawn from presses.
2. Mass production always saves $$ on individual horns as economies of scale are achieved.
The trade offs are fairly straight forward. With mass production, economies of scale are achieved and unit cost can come down. Consistency performance-wise between horns is much closer.
However, with hand made horns, while the risks exist for inconsistency of performance, one can achieve an efficiency of response/projection that is unavailable from a mass produced instrument. (ie...100% effort with 125% result...players of handmade instruments will attest to this most readily) The higher cost is offset by the perceived benefits of playing handmade instruments.
Please be assured that Besson tubas will be made by Besson.
All the best,
Patrick Sheridan
Low Brass Product Specialist, Boosey & Hawkes, USA