Leblanc (musical instrument manufacturer)
Encyclopedia
Leblanc, Inc. is a musical instrument manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin
.
The company was purchased on 1 August 2004 by Steinway Musical Instrument Company
, which now operates Leblanc as a division of its Conn-Selmer
subsidiary.
Leblanc inc. employs approximately 300 workers at three sites in Wisconsin
(two in Kenosha
and one in Elkhorn
) and about 40 workers in La Couture-Boussey
, France
.
(1922-2003) founded the G. Leblanc Corporation in Kenosha, Wisconsin
in 1946. The American company was set up to import woodwind instruments made in France
by G. Leblanc Cie.
G. Leblanc Cie. was a French company founded by Georges Leblanc late in the 19th century,in La Couture Boussey and in 1904 had acquired Noblet, the oldest instrument manufacturer in France.
The American Leblanc firm went on to manufacture student instruments under the Vito brand, named after founder Vito Pascucci
.
(manufacturer of brass
instruments) in 1964; the
Bublitz Case Company
manufacurer of musical instrument cases in 1966; the Woodwind Company (manufacturer of woodwind mouthpieces
) in 1968; and the Martin Band Instrument Company
(manufacturer of brass instruments and saxophones) in 1971.
Since 1981 Leblanc has been the exclusive marketer and distributor of Yanagisawa
saxophones in the United States and Canada.
In 1989 the American Leblanc firm acquired majority interest in G. Leblanc Cie. and took over its management. 2004 saw the firm sold to Conn-Selmer, a division of Steinway and Sons, by its Chairman, President and CEO, Leon Pascucci, son of founder, Vito.
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
.
The company was purchased on 1 August 2004 by Steinway Musical Instrument Company
Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
, which now operates Leblanc as a division of its Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of concert band, marching band, and orchestral instruments. It is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed after Steinway bought musical instrument manufacturers The Selmer Company and C.G. Conn.-Founding:In the late 1800s,...
subsidiary.
Leblanc inc. employs approximately 300 workers at three sites in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
(two in Kenosha
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
and one in Elkhorn
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Elkhorn is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is southwest of Milwaukee and northwest of Chicago. The population was 7,305 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Walworth County...
) and about 40 workers in La Couture-Boussey
La Couture-Boussey
La Couture-Boussey is a commune in the Eure department in northern France.-Population:-External links:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
History
Léon Leblanc (1900-2000) and Vito PascucciVito Pascucci
Dr. Vito Pascucci was a CEO and co-founder of G. Leblanc Corp of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Leblanc produced Leblanc and Noblet Clarinets, Holton brass, Martin Saxophones, Yanagisawa and Vito Saxophones.-References:...
(1922-2003) founded the G. Leblanc Corporation in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
in 1946. The American company was set up to import woodwind instruments made in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by G. Leblanc Cie.
G. Leblanc Cie. was a French company founded by Georges Leblanc late in the 19th century,in La Couture Boussey and in 1904 had acquired Noblet, the oldest instrument manufacturer in France.
The American Leblanc firm went on to manufacture student instruments under the Vito brand, named after founder Vito Pascucci
Vito Pascucci
Dr. Vito Pascucci was a CEO and co-founder of G. Leblanc Corp of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Leblanc produced Leblanc and Noblet Clarinets, Holton brass, Martin Saxophones, Yanagisawa and Vito Saxophones.-References:...
.
Acquisition of other instrument companies and their brands
Leblanc broadened its product line further with the acquisition of several other companies: The Frank Holton CompanyHolton (Leblanc)
Holton is a musical instrument manufacturer owned by Leblanc, a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments' Conn-Selmer division. Founded by trombone player Frank Holton in 1898 in Chicago, the firm built wind instruments in Elkhorn, Wisconsin from 1918 until 2011.-Frank Holton:Frank E. Holton was...
(manufacturer of brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
instruments) in 1964; the
Bublitz Case Company
Bublitz Case Company
The Bublitz Case Company was a manufacturer of musical instrument cases in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Assets of the Bublitz Case Company were bought by G...
manufacurer of musical instrument cases in 1966; the Woodwind Company (manufacturer of woodwind mouthpieces
Mouthpiece (woodwind)
The mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument is that part of the instrument which is placed partly in the player's mouth. Single-reed instruments, capped double-reed instruments, and fipple flutes have mouthpieces while exposed double-reed instruments and open flutes do not.-Single-reed instruments:On...
) in 1968; and the Martin Band Instrument Company
Martin Band Instrument Company
The Martin Band Instrument Company was a musical instrument manufacturer in Elkhart, Indiana.-John Henry Martin and the first Martin company:This company was actually the reappearance of a previous company. John Henry Martin The Martin Band Instrument Company was a musical instrument manufacturer...
(manufacturer of brass instruments and saxophones) in 1971.
Since 1981 Leblanc has been the exclusive marketer and distributor of Yanagisawa
Yanagisawa Wind Instruments
Yanagisawa Wind Instruments is a Japanese woodwind company known for its range of professional grade saxophones. Along with Yamaha they are one of the leading manufacturers of saxophones in Japan....
saxophones in the United States and Canada.
In 1989 the American Leblanc firm acquired majority interest in G. Leblanc Cie. and took over its management. 2004 saw the firm sold to Conn-Selmer, a division of Steinway and Sons, by its Chairman, President and CEO, Leon Pascucci, son of founder, Vito.