Elden Benge
Encyclopedia
Elden Eugene Benge, born July 12, 1904 in Winterset, Iowa
, was the principal trumpet
of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
from 1928–1933; he held the same position in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
from 1933-1939. After moving to Chicago
he began to experiment with designing his own trumpet, taking measurements from his personal instrument, a French Besson
. By the end of 1935, using pre-made components along with parts he fashioned, he constructed a trumpet for his own use.
He continued refining the process and began selling the instruments, until, in 1937, he was able to manufacture and assemble trumpets using parts solely made in his home workshop. In 1939 he started to advertise the Benge Company, and he continued making trumpets in his Chicago home until 1953. In part due to a severe case of spinal arthritis
, he moved to Burbank, California
, where he continued to make “The World’s Finest Trumpet” until his death on December 13, 1960.
After Elden Benge's death, the company was run by his son Donald Benge. The company enjoyed a very strong reputation among professional players in the Los Angeles area recording industry during the 1960s. In general the company did very little advertising and sold trumpets mostly to professionals and serious students through a network of professional players. In December 1970, Donald Benge sold the company to Leisure Time Industries and production was moved from the Benge garage to a small shop in downtown Los Angeles in the back of Lockie Music, also owned by Leisure Time. It has been claimed that "in 1972 the company was bought by H. N. White Co. who moved production to Anaheim, California
, and increased production substantially"; however, H. N. White ceased to exist as a musical instrument manufacturer in 1965. Therefore, the King Musical Instrument company must have purchased Benge, as Benge became part of UMI (Conn) in 1985, production of Benges having been moved to Eastlake, Ohio in 1983.
Benge trumpets continue to be manufactured by Conn-Selmer
,a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.
in its Eastlake, Ohio
facility. Some of Elden Benge's original design models are being marketed as "The Burbank Trumpet", by the Michael Thomas Music Company.
Winterset, Iowa
Winterset is a city in Madison County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,768 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Madison County....
, was the principal trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
from 1928–1933; he held the same position in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
from 1933-1939. After moving to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
he began to experiment with designing his own trumpet, taking measurements from his personal instrument, a French Besson
Besson (company)
Besson is a manufacturer of brass musical instrument. It is owned by Buffet Crampon, which bought Besson in 2006 from The Music Group.The company was formed in 1837 by Gustave Auguste Besson, who at the age of 18 produced a revolutionary design of cornet which surpassed all contemporary models. His...
. By the end of 1935, using pre-made components along with parts he fashioned, he constructed a trumpet for his own use.
He continued refining the process and began selling the instruments, until, in 1937, he was able to manufacture and assemble trumpets using parts solely made in his home workshop. In 1939 he started to advertise the Benge Company, and he continued making trumpets in his Chicago home until 1953. In part due to a severe case of spinal arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
, he moved to Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, where he continued to make “The World’s Finest Trumpet” until his death on December 13, 1960.
After Elden Benge's death, the company was run by his son Donald Benge. The company enjoyed a very strong reputation among professional players in the Los Angeles area recording industry during the 1960s. In general the company did very little advertising and sold trumpets mostly to professionals and serious students through a network of professional players. In December 1970, Donald Benge sold the company to Leisure Time Industries and production was moved from the Benge garage to a small shop in downtown Los Angeles in the back of Lockie Music, also owned by Leisure Time. It has been claimed that "in 1972 the company was bought by H. N. White Co. who moved production to Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, and increased production substantially"; however, H. N. White ceased to exist as a musical instrument manufacturer in 1965. Therefore, the King Musical Instrument company must have purchased Benge, as Benge became part of UMI (Conn) in 1985, production of Benges having been moved to Eastlake, Ohio in 1983.
Benge trumpets continue to be manufactured by Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of concert band, marching band, and orchestral instruments. It is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed after Steinway bought musical instrument manufacturers The Selmer Company and C.G. Conn.-Founding:In the late 1800s,...
,a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.
Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
in its Eastlake, Ohio
Eastlake, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,255 people, 8,055 households, and 5,557 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,166.5 people per square mile . There were 8,310 housing units at an average density of 1,299.1 per square mile...
facility. Some of Elden Benge's original design models are being marketed as "The Burbank Trumpet", by the Michael Thomas Music Company.