The Getzen Story

The Getzen Company, Inc. occupies a unique position in the ban instrument industry. Specializing in the hand crafting of small brasswind instruments, the more than half century old firm is owned and operated by Ed and Tom Getzen, third generation band instrument makers, who are the grandsons of its founder, T.J. Getzen. The Getzen brothers were brought up in the band instrument industry, working in every department of Allied Music Corporation, under the expert tutelage of Allied's founder and their father, J. Robert Getzen.

The purchase of the Getzen Company in March of 1991 returned the firm to Getzen family ownership after 31 years. The Getzen family commitment to their namesake company has been considerable.

The wedding of Allied Music Company ( a wholly owned subsidiary of the Getzen Company, Inc. ) and its veteran staff with the skilled, experienced Getzen work force have served to strengthen the company's position as a specialist in the manufacture of top quality, brasswind instruments. The combined firms are housed in a modern, 36,000 square foot facility, half of which was added to the existing plant in the latter part of 1991. In its new home, the Getzen Company combines advances in manufacturing technology with the skilled touch of artisans who have years of experience.

Following the traditions developed over more than half a century, the NEW Getzen Company continues to place emphasis on the manufacture of high quality professional, intermediate, and upper end student line instruments to meet the needs of players at every level.

1939 GETZEN COMPANY, INC. - Band instrument repair shop started by T.J. Getzen, former 329 E. Geneva Street, Elkhorn, Wis.

1946 First trombones manufactured by GETZEN CO.

1947 First trumpets and cornets manufactured by GETZEN CO.

1949 J. Robert Getzen, Son of T.J. Getzen, appointed plant superintendent of GETZEN CO.

1949 GETZEN CO. manufactures first piston bugles for Drum & Bugle Corps.

1950's GETZEN CO. grows to 80 employees. Instruments become very well respected in the student band instrument market.

1959 ALLIED MUSIC CORP. - J. Robert Getzen resigns as GETZEN plant superintendent and starts repair shop at 530 S. hwy H. in Elkhorn, with 1 employee.

1960 Milwaukee business man, Harold M. Knowlton purchases the GETZEN CO. from T.J. Getzen.

1961 GETZEN CO. moves to 211 W. Centralia Street. With the help of Doc Severinsen and other well known professional musicians, GETZEN develops a complete line of professional trumpets, cornets, and fluegel horns.

1964 Donald E. Getzen, son of T.J. Getzen, resigns as Executive Vice President of Getzen Company, to found DEG MUSIC PRODUCTS, in Lake Geneva, Wis.

1965 ALLIED MUSIC CORP. begins the manufacture of piston bugles for DEG Music Products, then expands to trumpets, cornets, trombones, and marching instruments by 1972.

1967 ALLIED SUPPLY CORP. founded by J. Robert Getzen. Specializing in replacement band instrument parts, replacement band instrument cases, and band instrument repair tools, serving band instrument retail and repair shops throughout the world.

1974 ALLIED SUPPLY CORP. purchased from J. Robert Getzen, by his sons, Edward M. Getzen and Thomas R. Getzen.

1985 GETZEN CO. is purchased from Harold M. Knowlton by Charles F. Andrews.

1985 ALLIED MUSIC CORP. is purchased from J. Robert Getzen by his sons, Edwards M. Getzen and Thomas R. Getzen.

1988 ALLIED SUPPLY CORP. moves to separate quarters, next door to ALLIED MUSIC CORP.

1988 The first EDWARDS trombones are manufactured by the EDWARDS INSTRUMENT CO., founded by Edwards M. Getzen, to meet the needs of top professional trombonists.

1990 ALLIED MUSIC CORP. collaborates with the famous brass quintet, THE CANADIAN BRASS, to design and manufacture instruments to be played and marketed by The Canadian Brass.

1991 ALLIED MUSIC CORP. owned by Ed and Tom Getzen, grandsons of the GETZEN CO. founder, purchases the assets of the GETZEN COMPANY, out of Federal Bankruptcy court.

1991 The GETZEN COMPANY moves from 211 W. Centralia Street, to the ALLIED MUSIC factory on Highway H.

1991 An 18,000 square foot addition is constructed, doubling the size of the ALLIED factory, to accommodate the GETZEN COMPANY'S equipment and employees.

1991 GETZEN CO. INC. becomes the parent manufacturing company, with ALLIED MUSIC becoming the repair division.

1992 GETZEN CO. seriously enters the trombone market with a completely re-designed line of professional and student trombones.

1993 The GETZEN CO. discontinues manufacturing of instruments for DEG MUSIC.

1995 THE EDWARDS INSTRUMENT COMPANY introduces a new line of Bb and C trumpets in December, designed for the professional market.

1995 THE GETZEN COMPANY takes over worldwide distrubution of CANADIAN BRASS line of instruments.

1995 Due to increased demands on production, the GETZEN CO. closes the repair division of ALLIED MUSIC CORP., for all instruments except GETZEN, CANADIAN BRASS, and EDWARDS.

Getzen Craftsmanship And Quality

Just as the beauty of music created by the gifted musician reflects his talents. his commitment to hard work, his unique skills and his felling for the music, so the tool he uses to create that music reflects similar qualities in the artisans who create musical instruments.

Although automation has been successfully applied in many industries and, to some extent in certain areas of the band instrument industry, the skilled hand of the experienced craftsperson is required to transform raw tubing and sheet brass stock into a top quality brasswind instrument. the building of brass instruments requires artisans with the touch and the feel gained by many years of experience.

The Getzen Company relies upon the expertise of its artisans to continue the traditions of quality and consistency developed during more than half a century.