Klarinet Archive - Posting 000186.txt from 2003/03

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] More corporate shenanigans in the instrument
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 18:54:37 -0500

At 11:02 AM 3/4/2003 -0600, Ed Lacy wrote:
>As of a couple of months ago, there is a new mega-corporation in the music
>world called "Conn-Selmer, Inc." This is true - I didn't make it up. The
>unlikely merger between these two former competitors means that one
>corporate entity owns and controls the brand names Armstrong, Artley,
>Bach, Benge, Buescher, Conn, Emerson, Glaesel, King, Ludwig, Musser,
>Scherl & Roth, and Selmer. Further, not mentioned on this list are other
>brand names that previously have disappeared in earlier buy-outs and
>takeovers by some of the above, including Linton, Lesher, White, and
>Cleveland. But, that doesn't even tell the whole story. Amazingly, the
>corporate entity under which this company operates is called "Steinway,
>Inc." That's right; the so-called "parent" is the Steinway piano
>company. Note also that all the names on the list of brands are also the
>names of formerly independent companies, some of whom at one time competed
>with each other.

Your information is mostly correct, as far as it goes. A few notes,
though. The H. N. White Company produced both King and the cheaper
Cleveland instrument lines, and very few under their own name (my own old
Albert clarinet being one of those early exceptions). Armstrong, Artley,
Benge, Conn, and King would most likely have disappeared completely have
they not been bought up and formed into UMI. The Buescher name and factory
were bought by Selmer back about 1963. The world did not end, although
Buescher as a serious manufacturer did. Bach was put up for sale when
Vincent Bach wanted to retire. He sold it to Selmer because he WANTED them
to have it. Steinway and Selmer merged a few years ago. Which bought who
is uncertain, but they decided the Steinway name had better recognition value.

There is still competition, of course. As long as Yamaha is in the
business the others will have to keep working hard. Also, Leblanc is a
major competitor (and have, over time, acquired Holton and Martin, among
others).

Not that I am entirely in FAVOR of these acquisitions, but I find them
preferable to having the brands disappear. Of course, when Holton brass
instruments are stenciled Yamahas (as are Bach baritones and tubas), Yamaha
bass clarinets are stenciled Vitos, and the new Conn International saxes
are stenciled Jupiters, it is hard to tell who is who!

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

---------------------------------------------------------------------