 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: William
Date: 2007-12-09 15:49
It was reported in our Sunday Wi State Journal that the Kenosha facility will be closing resulting in the loss of over 100 jobs. The operations will be moved to the Selmer plant in Elkhart, IN.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-12-09 23:20
Yeah, and then to China not too far down the line I bet.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2007-12-09 23:20
I guess it was only a matter of time. I would imagine it is an issue of trying to keep costs down, especially when faced with increasing competition from overseas. It seems everyday I hear about another instrument brand I have not heard of previously. They likely cannot afford to run two plants who do the same things. It is a shame to see that happen.
It is happening in every industry. Recently, Hersheys decided to close the Peter Paul plant where they have made Mounds and Almond Joy candies for 85 years. I believe this was the original plant. 220 employees have lost jobs in that one.
http://tinyurl.com/2lh6yu
Post Edited (2007-12-09 23:21)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-12-10 13:01
Maybe Hershey's and Leblanc can get together to save jobs, and make clarinets out of chocolate! Seriously though, that's sad news for both companies.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2007-12-10 14:31
So long, Vito....A sad day for Kenosha , a bonus for Elkhart.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-12-10 16:09
"Maybe Hershey's and Leblanc can get together to save jobs, and make clarinets out of chocolate! Seriously though, that's sad news for both companies."
that'd be the day.... =)
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2007-12-10 16:53
Does anyone know if there will be a consolidation of models too?
It seems as though there was already some of the harmony clarinet models that either LeBlanc or Selmer was dropping. Hopefully not whole lines of clarinets will be disbanded.
Eefer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2007-12-11 10:38
High wages is not the reason for this move. With Vito P. having passed away the fate of the Kenosha operation was only a matter of time, however, it has to be a sad day for Kenosha and the employees.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2007-12-13 08:06
I understand that the Leblanc-Backun instruments are made in the USA. Is this correct? Will they also be moving to the Selmer-USA plant?
I assume none of this affects Leblanc France, where the Opus and Concerto are made.
The CNN piece says that Steinway makes "Selmer Paris saxophones". Surely this is just plain wrong? Selmer Paris is completely independent of the Steinway empire.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nahoj
Date: 2007-12-13 13:47
The contrabass clarinets were made in Kenosha too. Hope they survive as a model...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2007-12-14 00:35
The LeBlanc operations are being moved to the Selmer facility in Elkhart.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-12-14 04:14
From Conn-Selmer representative:
"The Backun was made at Leblanc and will now be moved to Elkhart Woodwind Facility in the near future."
I know the Leblanc/Backun clarinets are "Made in USA" so if the bodies are made in Canda, how does that work? How is it decided where a product was made?
Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-12-14 05:02
Morrie Backun told me that the bodies are made in his shop and the keywork is made in Kenosha and the keys are assembled to the body in Kenosha. The place a product is made as in "Made in USA" is not totally clear. A shirt might be "Made in Mexico" but the buttons are actually made in China and the fabric is woven in India and the thread is from Korea and the dye is from ... ... ... ... ...
Generally, I see products are "Made in XXXX" in the country where it goes from parts to product. Although the body is "Made in Canada", the body itself is not a clarinet. It has a long way to go to become something that one can make music with.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Aequore
Date: 2007-12-14 07:35
And to think one of my friends was informing me that Leblanc was starting to give Buffet some competition. But with this sudden change, dont think that is ever going to happen. What does everyone think of the buffet empire. Are they always going to remain at top?
Pete
Performace Major/ Juilliard School of Music
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2007-12-14 14:22
Pete, I don't know that changing the physical location of the Leblanc assembly will change much, at least as far as Leblanc's position relative to Buffet goes. This is a relocation of production, not an end of production. It might (I can't say for sure as I don't have the gift of prophecy) actually be good for the competitive stance, as it may have an effect on efficiencies of scale and the like.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2007-12-14 14:47
It might be well to remember that Leblanc became a "major" competitor as a result of Tom Ridenours design and, perhaps more importantly, his promotion of their Opus/Concerto model clarinets. Leblanc's challenging surge has definatedly slowed since his departure, but I do not think relocating the factory will cause any further demise. Perhaps Rossi might be interested in a WI-USA based assembly operation for his clarinets--hey Louis, are you getting this?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2007-12-14 15:23
Since the Leblanc Opus and Concerto are made in France, I fail to see how the relocation of a factory from one part of the US to another can have any effect whatever on them. Maybe by quantum entanglement?
There's a video on http://www.leblanc-noblet.com/visite-tour-usine/ which shows the manufacturing process. I haven't time to view it right now, but I've an idea it doesn't show the keywork being made. Maybe that comes from the USA just as the Leblanc-Backun keywork does.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2007-12-14 19:22
"It might be well to remember that Leblanc became a "major" competitor as a result of Tom Ridenours design and, perhaps more importantly, his promotion of their Opus/Concerto model clarinets."
--------------------------
Yup, Leblanc had a few promoters on their instruments, but nothing at all like when Tom made their Clarinets worthy of competing with Buffet.
Before that it was said that one of their big endorsers did a recital which was sponsored by them yet got caught playing a Buffet.
Who? I'm not saying 
Personally I don't think moving the location will make a difference at all, except for the poor folks who made a living working at the plant all those years. I'd guess that entire families will be affected as often several members work at such plants.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: davyd
Date: 2007-12-15 01:39
"here's a video on http://www.leblanc-noblet.com/visite-tour-usine/ which shows the manufacturing process"
Totally kewl soundtrack! Who's the soloist?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
