Description

Elden Benge as a trumpet player and as a trumpet manufacturer was largely self-taught, although he was studying in Kansas City with William Eby. During the 1930s, Benge began experimenting in trumpet construction. He was Principal trumpet with Detroit Symphony 1928-1933, and also was Chicago Symphony Principal trumpet 1933-1939 when in 1933 Edward Llewellyn suffered an embouchure problem requiring the immediate appointment of Elden Benge. Also starting in the late 1930s, Benge played with Chicago radio station the WGN staff orchestra with year-around employment. From 1937-1953, he hand-manufactured trumpets in Chicago. Then in 1952, ‘for health reasons’, Elden Benge relocated to Burbank, California where he continued trumpet manufacture until his death in 1960. In 1953 Elden Benge, the retired principal trumpeter with the Chicago Symphony, continued making his own trumpets because he couldn’t find a new horn that matched the tonal quality of his prized 1920s-era Besson. When Eldon moved to Burbank, California, to do film score work, he brought his trumpet business with him. He started in his garage in Burbank California, located at 1122 W Burbank Blvd. In the early ’50s Zig Kanstul a young apprentice from Olds was moonlighting at the tiny Benge garage in Burbank. Zig was working along side of Eldon, and Lou Duda, a seasoned veteran of instrument manufacturing also from Olds. From these humble beginnings the Burbank Benge trumpet was born. Overnight the Benge instruments became sought after among professional trumpeters. Many seasoned studio players and famous performers were now playing Benge trumpets. The likes of Herb Alpert, Claude Gordon, and Al Porcino were all p[laying the Benge Trumpet! The bells were stamped ‘Resno-Tempered’. This means the process of hammering and annealing (heating) the one piece bell into shape. ‘Custom Made by E. Benge’ and the address of the garage in which they were made ‘1122 W Burbank Blvd’. Elden Benge was killed in a car accident in front of this house in 1960. Years later on April 6, 2007 Elden’s son, Donald was also killed at the age of 73, when his car was hit by a drunk driver in Burbank, California. He was still living at 1122 W Burbank Blvd at the time of his death. As luck would have it in 1970, after leaving Olds. Zig took over manufacturing operations at Benge. In a ten-year period he transformed the company from a small custom shop to a large-scale operation producing an extensive line of Benge trumpets. As a mentor, Elden Benge launched Zig Kanstul on a lifelong career in the brass business that included management posts at Olds, King, and Conn. Since 1981 Kanstul has been self-employed, presiding over Kanstul Musical Instruments based in Anaheim, California. ‘There’s a great tradition of building instruments in this country,’ Zig says, ‘and I was fortunate enough to learn it from some of the very best. It’s something worth preserving.’ (2012) What has happened to 1122 W. Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506 Burbank Winery & Commerce Center 1,915 SF Creative/Loft Year Built 1923 Attractive mini Office / Retail Center is newly completed and renovated in top notch condition. Three freestanding buildings with well laid out common areas create an attractive and convenient work environment with excellent access to major thoroughfares and high exposure and identity.