The manufacture of musical instruments in the Michiana
area has been a major influence on the lives of residents for over 125 years. From the C.G.Conn Company which was the first, to the twenty or so that remained to the 1990's, these were the businesses that built the area's reputation as "The
Band Instrument Capitol of the World." Even the school music program had its roots in the minds of Michiana marketing entrepreneurs. The roots run deep, and the connections are strong to the heart of the community.
Oldtimers share a history of working at one of the plants, while most area residents know someone who worked or is working in the industry. There are as many stories as there are people who lived them, but the formal recorded history is curiously lacking about the everyday people who made the industry so successful.
That's why we'd like to hear from you and share your stories with other readers of this page. Fond memories of what it was like working a generation ago, or just yesterday tell the story one day at a time. Help write history. We're just an E-mail away. And check back to this site again, to look for what other readers share. Below are a number of musical instrument company names. Some are live links with information or Company Sites, while others are a work in progress. Tell us what you remember about a particular company so we can add it here. And if we've forgotten to list one, let us know so we can add it to the list.
The Companies: W.T. Armstrong, E.K. Blessing, Buescher, C.G. Conn, Gemeinhardt, Hardy's Musical Instruments, Leedy, Martin,The Selmer Company, United Musical Instruments, Walter Piano, Wurlitzer