Martin Band Instrument Company

The Martin band Instrument Company was a manufacturer of musical instruments in Elkhart (Indiana).

History

John Henry Martin and the first " Martin Company"

The " Martin band Instrument Company " was actually a reappearance of an older company, by John Henry Martin ( born February 24, 1835 † November 25, 1910 ), a German immigrant from Dresden, was founded in 1865 in Chicago. Probably he was there the first manufacturer of musical instruments.

In 1871, his company, " Martin Company", destroyed by fire. In 1876 he moved to Elkhart, where he became the sixth employee at CG Conn. Martin made ​​no more attempt to start a new business.

Henry Charles Martin and the " Martin band instrument company"

John Henry Martin's eldest son, Henry Charles Martin (1866 - 1927) worked from 1890 at Conn. Between 1905 and 1910, he and three of his brothers, the " Martin band instrument Company". In 1912 Francis Compton a large stake in the company and took over from 1912 to 1917, a position in the corporate board. Charles Henry Martin remained CEO until 1917. From 1922 on, he worked for Buescher. From a letter of 1923 is well known that Martin was planning to build a third company, but he had to stop for health reasons in 1924 Buescher.

The company 1912-1971

Over the next forty years, joined the management of the company frequently. During this time, " Martin Committee " was introduced trumpet. 1961 united Paul E. Richards Martin, EK Blessing and FA Reynolds in the Richards Music Corporation. This alliance broke up in 1964. The rights to the brand Martin were taken over by Wurlitzer and the production site of Martin went to Wurlitzer in Elkhart on. 1971 Wurlitzer sold the rights to Martin to Leblanc and closed the factory. Leblanc chose the brand name Martin for some instruments to be used on.

1971-2007

Leblanc used the name Martin until 2007 for the " Committee " Trumpet and the " Urbie Green" trombone.