Musical Musical (Ownership) Chairs: Kay / Valco / Supro

capnjuan

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The following text was copied from the Magnatone/Valco BB. Some interesting reading considering the mid-60s sale of Fender, the soon thereafter sale of Gibson to Norlin and Avnet's role in Guild. Not to much of a stretch to conclude that the post-WW2 generation founders of so many of these companies were ready to retire and cash out. There is link at the bottom to the Kay Bass webpage; the purpose of posting this information here is purely for the education of the LTG BBers and no ownership in this information is expressed or implied. cj

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KAY History excerpt

In 1955, Kuhrmeyer retired allowing Katz full ownership and responsibility. Kuhrmeyer died March 18, 1956, leaving his wife Rosamond, who lived until 1985. There were no children. They had lived in Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois, with Henry commuting to work every day. Katz made few changes in the first couple of years, but as profits demanded the majority of the Kay line strengthened its shift toward electric instruments. He did allow the bass and cello line to operate nearly unaffected. Katz tried to develop a stronger marketing plan by obtaining Barney Kessel, a noted guitarist, as an endorser. In 1964, Kay Musical Instruments moved to a new factory in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The move to the new building attracted a buyer, and in 1965 Katz sold the company to Seeburg, a company already famous for their juke boxes.

Katz became the head of Seeburg's musical instrument division. Bob Keyworth, a long time Kay employee, headed up the Kay instrument division. In 1967, Valco Company who had been responsible for the National and Supro brands, descendants of the Dopyera brothers and Dobro, bought Kay from Seeburg. With Robert Engelhardt as president and Al Link as vice-president of Valco, Kay products were unchanged. During Valco's ownership, Kay's catalog was simply reprinted with Valco's name at the head. Japanese competition, debt accumulation and inventory excesses were difficult for Kay / Valco to handle and a decision was made to disolve the company.

The assets of Kay/Valco were auctioned off in October of 1969. W.M.I., Weiss Musical Instruments, founded by Jack Westheimer, operated by Sil Weindling and Barry Hornstein, bought the Kay name. Tony Blair, who had been working for W.M.I since 1973 bought the Kay name in 1980 after he heard Fred Gretsch, Jr. was interested in a brand name. By 1982 Blair began using the Kay name on instruments and in 1984 the Kay Guitar Company began manufacturing and importing instruments for beginners.

During the time Valco was dissolving, Robert Engelhardt and Al Link formed a company called Engelhardt-Link. At the auction the new company purchased the bass and cello portion of Valco. Included in the sale were all the assets, remaining inventory, jigs, forms, and tools necessary to produce basses and cellos. Fortunately, Engelhardt-Link was also able to convince a couple of very knowledgeable employees to stay with the company and continue production of upright instruments as they had been produced in years past.

As soon as Engelhardt-Link purchased the acoustic part of the Valco business the bass and cello line was moved to yet another building in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, located at 185 King St. The first Engelhardt bass, made the "Kay way," was shipped from its new factory on February 18, 1970.

http://www.kaybass.com/history.htm
 

jp

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Englehardt-Link still manufacture decent quality upright basses and cellos--still made in America. They're really affordable too ($1400-1500). I've been tempted to trade in my Swedish Bjärton 3/4 for a new Englehardt, since the cost to repair mine is more than a new Englehardt!

Thanks for posting capn.
 

capnjuan

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Your'e welcome JP. J
 
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