Contrabass clarinet in B flat. Maple body. Nickel silver plated keywork, crook and bell. Keys have leather pads. Simple system fingering. Three speaker keys. Some keywork missing/damaged. Three maple sections are joined together by two U-shaped sections of nickel silver plated tubing. These sections are removable by unscrewing two butterfly screws (one missing) but are currently firmly in place. Two sling hooks, one under thumbrest and another further up the body. Nickel silver plated swan neck crook. Mouthpiece missing. Stamped inscription on central ferrule is partly obscured when instrument is assembled, visible section reads: ...a joint does/... come asunder; All three wooden sections stamped: FB/F.BESSON/LONDON; with a star emblem beneath. Bell stamped: 50 MEDALS OF HONOUR/FB/F.BESSON./LONDON/Patented/FROM/Capt Moers; with a star emblem beneath the word LONDON.
