Martin Band Instrument Company
Encyclopedia
The Martin Band Instrument Company was a musical instrument manufacturer in Elkhart, Indiana
.
in 1855 and then in 1865 removed to Chicago where he set up the original Martin company. It is believed that Martin was the first maker of musical instruments in that community.
Martin lost everything in the Chicago fire of 1871. In 1876 he learned of C.G. Conn's new horn factory in Elkhart. John Henry and his seven sons walked to Elkhart, and the elder Martin became the sixth employee of the company. Once in Elkhart he did not attempt to restart his old operation. In 1902 he suffered the first of eight strokes. Afterward his employment was sporadic, and he spent the remainder of his life as an invalid.
bought a major share and assumed the position as vice-president from 1912 to 1917. Charles Henry Martin remained as president until 1917. In 1922 he was working for Buescher
. It is known in a letter dated 1923 that Martin expressed his desire to begin tooling for a third Martin company, but in 1924 he suffered the first of three strokes and was forced to resign from Buescher.
trumpet was introduced. Then in 1961 Paul E. Richards combined Martin, E. K. Blessing
, and F.A. Reynolds
to create the Richards Music Corporation. This arrangement fell apart in 1964. The rights to the Martin trademark were taken over by Wurlitzer
, and the Martin factory became a division of Wurlitzer in Elkhart. In 1971 the rights to Martin were bought by Leblanc
, and Wurlitzer closed the old Martin factory. Leblanc chose to continue to use the Martin trademark on some lines of instruments.
trumpet and the Urbie Green trombone until 2007.
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
.
John Henry Martin and the first Martin company
This company was actually the reappearance of a previous company. John Henry Martin (b. Dresden, Germany 24 Feb 1835; d Elkhart 25 Nov 1910) apprenticed as a horn maker in the old ways and emigrated to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1855 and then in 1865 removed to Chicago where he set up the original Martin company. It is believed that Martin was the first maker of musical instruments in that community.
Martin lost everything in the Chicago fire of 1871. In 1876 he learned of C.G. Conn's new horn factory in Elkhart. John Henry and his seven sons walked to Elkhart, and the elder Martin became the sixth employee of the company. Once in Elkhart he did not attempt to restart his old operation. In 1902 he suffered the first of eight strokes. Afterward his employment was sporadic, and he spent the remainder of his life as an invalid.
Henry Charles Martin and the Martin Band Instrument Company
The eldest son of John Henry Martin was Henry Charles Martin (b New York City 12 Jan 1866; d Elkhart 8 Nov 1927). From about 1890 he worked for Conn as his father had done. Martin family sources claim that the Martin Band Instrument Company began in 1905. It may have been setting up at this date with very limited production, however it wasn't until 1910 that the company was in full operation with Henry Charles Martin, Robert J. Martin, Charles E. Martin and Frederick Martin as president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer respectively. Family sources indicate that the four brothers fought incessantly over the company, and in 1912 Francis ComptonFrancis Compton
Francis Compton D.C.L was an English lawyer and Conservative Party politician.Compton was the son of Henry Combe Compton M.P. of Minstead Manor House, Lyndhurst, Hants and his wife Charlotte Mills. He was educated at Merton College, Oxford and became a Fellow of All Souls. He was called to the...
bought a major share and assumed the position as vice-president from 1912 to 1917. Charles Henry Martin remained as president until 1917. In 1922 he was working for Buescher
Buescher Band Instrument Company
The Buescher Band Instrument Company was a manufacturer of musical instruments in Elkhart, Indiana.-History:The company was founded by Ferdinand August "Gus" Buescher . He accompanied his family to Goshen, Indiana and then to Elkhart in 1875. In 1876 he found employment with C.G...
. It is known in a letter dated 1923 that Martin expressed his desire to begin tooling for a third Martin company, but in 1924 he suffered the first of three strokes and was forced to resign from Buescher.
The company from 1912 to 1971
For the next forty years the company had a number of presidents. During this time the Martin CommitteeMartin Committee
The Martin Committee was a line of band instruments, including trumpets, cornets, fluegelhorns, trombones, and saxophones. The name originated in the mid-1930s and was used until 2007...
trumpet was introduced. Then in 1961 Paul E. Richards combined Martin, E. K. Blessing
E. K. Blessing
E. K. Blessing is a manufacturer of wind instruments and accessories. The company was founded in 1906 by Emil Karl Blessing. Located in the Elkhart, Indiana, their products include clarinets, flutes, saxophones, trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, mellophones, euphoniums, trombones, tubas, and...
, and F.A. Reynolds
F.A. Reynolds
-Life:Foster Reynolds was born December 29, 1884, was married twice and had three children. His first Marriage to Frances Dean at the age of 18 lasted 31 years before ending in divorce. His second marriage to Myrtle Rozelle in the late 1940s lasted the remainder of his life...
to create the Richards Music Corporation. This arrangement fell apart in 1964. The rights to the Martin trademark were taken over by Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
, and the Martin factory became a division of Wurlitzer in Elkhart. In 1971 the rights to Martin were bought by Leblanc
Leblanc (musical instrument manufacturer)
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...
, and Wurlitzer closed the old Martin factory. Leblanc chose to continue to use the Martin trademark on some lines of instruments.
1971-2007
Leblanc continued its use of the Martin name on both the CommitteeMartin Committee
The Martin Committee was a line of band instruments, including trumpets, cornets, fluegelhorns, trombones, and saxophones. The name originated in the mid-1930s and was used until 2007...
trumpet and the Urbie Green trombone until 2007.
Sources
- McMakin, Dean "Musical Instrument Manufacturing in Elkhart, Indiana" (unpublished typescript, 1987, available at Elkhart Public Library)
- Elkhart city directories (available Elkhart Public Library)
- The Elkhart Truth, Saturday 26 November 1910, obituary of John Henry Martin
- Elkhart Daily Review, Saturday 26 November 1910, obituary of John Henry Martin
- The Elkhart Truth, Tuesday 8 November 1927, obituary of Henry Charles Martin
See also
- C. G. ConnC. G. ConnC.G. Conn Ltd., sometimes called Conn Instruments or commonly just Conn, was a United States manufacturer of musical instruments, especially brass instruments. In 1985 their Strobotuner division was bought by Peterson Electro-Musical Products, who continue to service their line of products.Assets...
- Conn-SelmerConn-SelmerConn-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,...
- Leblanc (musical instrument manufacturer)Leblanc (musical instrument manufacturer)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...
- Buescher Band Instrument CompanyBuescher Band Instrument CompanyThe Buescher Band Instrument Company was a manufacturer of musical instruments in Elkhart, Indiana.-History:The company was founded by Ferdinand August "Gus" Buescher . He accompanied his family to Goshen, Indiana and then to Elkhart in 1875. In 1876 he found employment with C.G...
- Steinway Musical InstrumentsSteinway Musical InstrumentsSteinway Musical Instruments, Inc. is a musical instrument manufacturing conglomerate.Through acquisitions and mergers, the company has acquired a large number of musical instrument brand names and manufacturing facilities...