The Virtual Museum

  Makers

 

 

Allora {Buffet-Crampon VMI, Markneukirchen, Germany}

 

American Standard {Est. 1919 as brand of Cleveland (below) became Tempo brand 1963}

 

Antoine Courtois {now in Buffet-Crampon group, established late 18^th century}

 

Anton Riedel{Established 1885, Graslitz, Bohemia, ceased to exist when Reidel family disposessed and deported 11 October 1946}

 

Austin Winds{Established early 2000s, Austin, Texas, in the back of an IT services office - unique designs fabricated by Kanstul or Taylor}

 

Benge {Defunct brand name belonging to Conn-Selmer est. 1930s, acq’d by KMI}

 

Besson {now Buffet-Crampon Group producing in India & Germany @ VMI, established 1838 in France, split to English and French firms 1858 (Besson & Co, F.Besson), re-established 2007/8}

 

Blechbrass und SignalInstrumenten Fabrik {Established 1953 as a collective in Germany, now division of Buffet-Crampon}

 

Blessing {Established 1906 Elkhart Indiana as Emil K. Blessing, later E.K. Blessing,
sold to St,Louis Music 2015, becoming a stencil brand on imports}

 

Bohland & Fuchs {Est. 1862 in Graslitz, Bohemia, collectivized into Amati in 1946}

 

Bohm-Meinl {Established 1950s, Geretsried, Bavaria, W. Germany, in a former ammunition bunker.
Purchased by Walter Nirschl, grandson of Walter Meinl and operates today from plants in India, China and Brazil.}

 

Boosey & Co. {Established 1760 as a music publisher, entered brasswind manufacturing by buying
Henry Diston's first firm in 1868, merged into Boosey & Hawkes in 1930 (unused brand of Buffet today,
B&H publishing is separate) Operated in London England}

 

Boston Musical Instrument Co. {Established 1869 in Boston from EG Wright + Graves}

 

Bryant-Newell{Est. 1904 Detroit Michigan , ceased operations between 1914 and 1918 - spin-off from Willard Bryant's music store}

 

Buescher {Est. 1903/4 by Gus Buescher, sold 1916 to AH Beardsley and Elkhart BIC in 1923}

 

Buffet-Crampon {Est. 1825, Paris, France, Re-established 2008}

 

Bundy {Est. 1941 as Selmer brand, sold to Guitar Center in 2008 for Asian stencil use}

 

F.W. Busch{Est. <1869 at #255 Bowery, N.Y., as family shop by Fred Busch. Briefly partnered with string
maker August Glaesel ca.1870. Partnered with Henry Distin in 1878. Sons Edward & William join firm in 20th c.
Fred died in 1920 and the firm relocated as the shop of Edward to New Jersey. Defunct <1940.}

 

G. Butler & Sons {Est. 1798 by John Dollard in Dublin, passed to George Butler in 1826.
Expanded to London by 1865. Retailer after 1923. Defunct after 1941.}

 

Calicchio {Est. 1947 by Dominic Calicchio Transitioned to Joe Lintz and John Duda 1987, Bought by John Duda 2003}

 

CarolBrass {Est. late 1980s as Hoxon Gakki, Carol Brass established as Western sales unit 2002, name changed to CarolBrass in 2010}

 

C.G. Conn {Est. 1876, Elkhart In., Conn-Selmer Div. of Steinway 2003}

 

Cleveland Band Instrument Co. {Est. 1919, acq’d by H.N. White 1925}

 

Couesnon
{Est. 1827 as August Guichard in Chateau-Theirry, a suburb of Paris
Son-in-law Pierre Gautrot joined 1835, firm became Gautrot 1845
Firm became Couesnon in 1883, again by marriage
Firm failed after an arson fire and was revived by a former employee and her family,
whose three married names make up the first part of the name PGM Couesnon
Remained in Chateau-Thierry. Defunct 2023}

 

D.E.G./ Dynasty{Est. 1965 by Don Getzen, ceased sales of stencil marching brass before 2016, Dynasty drums continues}

 

Distin, Henry {Est. 1849 in England, 1878 in NY, 1882 in PA, became Brua Keefer 1909
Defunct after a grass fire spread to the factory in 1960}

 

EA Couturier {Est. 1913 as Wm Seidel, failed, acq’d 1917, moved LaPort IN, failed 1923}

 

Eastman {Est. 1992, expanded into brass 2005 with Steve Shires}

 

E.F. Durand {Est. circa 2007, stencil brand}

 

Elkhart Band Instrument Co. {Est. 1923, bought Buescher, name retired 1959}

 

F.E. Olds {Est. 1912, liquidated 1979, name used by a music store on supplier-built (stencil) product now}

 

Frank Millard Co. {Est. 1904/8 in Detroit MI, closed after 1921}

 

Getzen {Est. 1947 in Elkhorn Wisconsin}

 

Gladiator by H.N. White {Est. 1940 as economy line, built 1940-41 & 1950-53}

 

J.Gras {Est. 1836 in Paris and Lille, Made bell blanks for Bach in the 1920s, defunct 1930s}

 

Greenhill {Est. 1824 as Jos. Greenhill, 71 Little Britain, London Eng. Moved to 18 Little Britain 1829
Prof. Joseph Greenhill died 1836, Mrs. C. Greenhill successor. Moved to 14 Ivy Lane, Newgate St.
1847, defunct after 1850}

 

Grinnell Bros. {Est. 1872 Ann Arbor MI, 1881 Detroit MI, liquidated 1981}

 

H.E. McMillin – Crown Brand {Est. circa 1880, Cleveland OH, died 1924}

 

H.N. White {Est. 1894, sold forming King Musical Instruments 1965, now Conn-Selmer brand}

 

Harry B. Jay - Columbia {Est. circa 1905, Chicago IL, defunct by WWII }

 

Harry Pedler & Sons {Est. 1932 as ART, renamed 1937, sold to Selmer 1958}

 

Hawkes & Son {Est. 1876 as Hawkes and Riviere (Hawkes began as music retailer in 1860),
renamed 1889, merged with Boosey and Co. 1930}

 

Henri Selmer, Paris {Est. 1885, merged with Conn 2004 as Conn-Selmer}

 

Herb Couf “Royalist” {stencil of Keilwerth: est.1925, reincorporated 1946}

 

Hickernell, Prof. Ross {Est. 1922, Warren, OH., Built initially under contract by Nuss, but mostly by York through ca. 1930.}

 

Holton {Est. 1896, Chicago IL, Moved Elkhorn WI 1918, Leblanc div. 1965, Conn-Selmer brand 2004}

 

Anton Holy{Est. 1864 in Pilsen Bohemia. Defunct around 1897. Anton Holy (1835-1926) was a Czech nationalist.}

 

Hunter Music{Est. 1996 as the US retail arm of Tianjin Music Instrument Industry Co. of China in New York}

 

Imperial{Est. August 1922 at at 643 Elmira St. in Williamsport PA., moved 1926 to 3 Maynard St., ceased ops 1935}

 

Isaac Fiske & Co. (Isaac Fiske 1820-1894){Est. 1842 in Worcester Mass.
Sold to C.G. Conn January 1887, became Conn Worcester. Closed down 1898}

 

Henry Keat and Sons {Est. 1825 in London by Samuel Keat. 1856 son Henry buys out brother George.
1876 Henry's sons Daniel and George take over. Defunct 1950}

 

James Keat {Sold through Graves & Co. Winchester N.H., Est. 1836, Sold to Graves 1842}

 

Jupiter (KHS Music) {Est. 1930 as Wan Wu, Taiwan, as KHS 1946, Jupiter US 1980}

 

J. Higham {Est. 1842, Manchester England; closed circa 1960}

 

JW York & Son {unused brand of Buffet-Crampon group; Est.1882 Grand Rapids, closed 1971}

 

Kanstul {Est.1982 Anaheim CA. in the former KMI Benge plant}

 

Ralph Kenny Music Store {Est.1907 Minneapolis, closed 1918 }

 

LeCompte {Est.1859 Paris France, defunct 1912}

 

H. Lehnert Philadelphia {Est. 1865 in Boston, moved Philadelphia 1866 , by Henry Lehnert, apprentice
to Graves & Wright, and brother of Carl Lehnert who partnered with Ben Richardson, the former partner
of JL Allen, in Richardson & Lehnert in Boston. Defunct 1916}

 

Ludwig’s Music {Est. 1876 by Alex Ludwig, St. Louis MO}

 

Lyon & Healy {Est.1889 Chicago IL, only makes/stencils harps today}

 

C. Mahillon {Est. 1836 by Charles B Mahillon (1813-1887), sold 1937 to Jean Adrien Smits becoming
Mahillon & Co. Succ. J. Smits. Sold 1970 to the Steenhuysen firm becoming Musical Mahillon Steenhuysen
in 1978. Ceased operation 1999.
Victor C Mahillon (3/10/1841- 6/17/1924), was the son of Charles, author of Éléments D'Acoustique of 1874
and first curator as well as major donor to the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, which created the
(European) Musical Instrument Museum in 1877. Renold Schilke studied Mahillon's work at the
Conservatory in 1927.}

 

Martin & Co.{Est. GR Martin 1852, NY, Martin & Co. 1864, MP&C 1872, Martin Bros. 1879-85}

 

Martin Band Instr. Co.{unused brand of Conn Selmer since 2007, Est.1904&5 Elkhart IN}

 

M. Dupont, Paris{19th & 20th century horns built in France and sold through American retailers such as Sears.
The name comes from the French instrument making family of Eugene Dupont, who worked for, possibly
apprenticed at, Besson, and then for Aldolph Sax trained Henry Distin, ultimately mentoring CG Conn,
Gus Buescher and JH Martin at Conn & Dupont}

 

Meredith Band Instrument. Co.{Est. 1904 by Z. Albert Meredith (b.14-Dec. 1869 in Waring Ohio)
operated 1907-1920 in Marion Ohio. Unique patented open valve porting system}

 

Millereau {Est. 1790s as Raoux, sold to (1815) Labbaye 1857, to Millereaux 1878, to Selmer 1932}

 

Rudy Muck{Est. 1936 New York, NY. Sold to Carl Fischer around 1950, continued through 1960s}

 

Nikkan{Est. 1930s Tokyo Japan. Aquired by Yamaha 1955. Brand ended 1970}

 

Orsi, Prof. Romeo {Est. 1836 Tradate Italy}

 

Oswal Band Instruments {Est. 1962 (company claim - records show 1972) in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India}

 

Jacques Polfliet Bruxelles {Est. 1914 (active after war) in Brussels, Belgium. Defunct after 1950}
"patented maker to the army and conservatory"

 

Pollman, August {Est. 1880 NY NY, defunct after 1905}

 

Reynolds {Music store stencil since 1979; Est. 1936, sold to Scherl & Roth 1946, Olds 1963}

 

Salvationist Publishing {Est. 1889 London Eng., sold to Boosey & Hawkes 1972}

 

Schilke Music Products{Est.1956, Chicago. IL.}

 

Davis Shuman {Est.1950, NY NY, modified Peddler horns with a re-orientable bell,
Sale of assets to Selmer 1960, continued modifying Courtois horns, died 1966}

 

Sistek Music {Est. 1904 Cleveland OH, burned down 1970 in murder-arson}

 

Moses Slater {Est.1865, Slater died 1889 but the company lasted till 1920}

 

S.R. Leland & Son {Est. 1839 Worcester MA, closed 1915}

 

Stomvi {Est. 1980 Xirivella, Valencia, Spain as a jewelry shop by Vicente Honorato Ibanez,
expanded to brass instruments 1982}

 

Tanabe Band Instrument Co. Ltd. {Est. 1897 in Tokyo 4 years after Japan's first band instrument maker
(Egawa - became Nikkan and was bought by Yamaha) Shut down in 1954}

 

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics {Est. 1917, dissolved December 1991 }

 

Vega {Est. DC Hall 1862 Boston MA, Hall & Quinby 1866-1869, Hall-Quinby-Wright 1869-1871, Quinby & Hall 1871-1876,
Quinby Bros 1876-1884, Standard Band Instruments 1884-1905, Bought by Vega Banjo 1905, Vega 1909-WWII}

 

Vincent Bach Corp. {Est. 1918 NY NY, sold to Selmer 1961, Conn-Selmer Co. Elkhart}

 

W.F.L. Drums {Est. 1936}

 

 

Wm. Frank & Co.{Est. 1914, absorbed by Blessing after WWII, tooling sold to Schilke Music Product in 1956 to make mouthpieces}

 

 

W.J. Gronert {Est. ca. 1900, merged into Martin BIC 1911}

 

 

Wurlitzer {Est. 1856, exited band instrument market 1971}

 

Yamaha {Est. 1887 Japan}

 

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