Harmony Company
Encyclopedia
The Harmony Company was an American
company that, in its heyday, was the largest musical instrument
manufacturer in the USA. They made many types of stringed instruments, including ukuleles, acoustic and electric guitars, and violins.
market. In 1928, Harmony introduced the first of many Roy Smeck
models, and went on to become the largest producer in the U.S. They sold 250,000 pieces in 1923 and 500,000 in 1930, including various models
of guitar
s, banjo
s, and mandolin
s.
In the late 1930s, the firm began making violin
s again after a 19 year hiatus. They also bought brand names from the bankrupt Oscar Schmidt
Co.—La Scala, Stella, and Sovereign. They sold not only Harmony products, but instruments under the Sears name, Silvertone
, and a variety of trade names—Vogue, Valencia, Johnny Marvin, Monterey, Stella
, and others.
The company peaked in 1964-1965, selling 350,000 instruments, but low-end foreign competition led to the company's demise 10 years later. Between 1945 and 1975, the Chicago firm had mass produced about ten million guitars. The company reduced their output over the years, later focusing on student models sold through JCPenney.
The Harmony Guitar Company ceased in 1975, and sold the Harmony name. The name is now used by an unrelated company based in Lake Barrington, Illinois
that imports guitars from Asia.
Vintage Harmony guitars have become a popular item for collectors and often fetch high prices on eBay
.
In 2009, the name and trademark of Harmony were purchased by the Westheimer Corp., and vintage Harmony guitars are reissued.
Related brands
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company that, in its heyday, was the largest musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
manufacturer in the USA. They made many types of stringed instruments, including ukuleles, acoustic and electric guitars, and violins.
History
Harmony was founded in 1892 by Wilhelm Schultz. In 1916, Sears, Roebuck and Co. purchased it, in part to corner the ukuleleUkulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
market. In 1928, Harmony introduced the first of many Roy Smeck
Roy Smeck
Roy Smeck was an American musician. His skill on the banjo, guitar, steel guitar, and especially the ukulele earned him the nickname "Wizard of the Strings."-Background:...
models, and went on to become the largest producer in the U.S. They sold 250,000 pieces in 1923 and 500,000 in 1930, including various models
Harmony Company Models
The Harmony Company of Illinois, United States, manufactured a wide variety of musical instruments which were popular during most of the 20th century. This article is devoted to documenting these instruments.- Numbering convention :...
of guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
s, and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
s.
In the late 1930s, the firm began making violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s again after a 19 year hiatus. They also bought brand names from the bankrupt Oscar Schmidt
Oscar Schmidt Inc.
The Oscar Schmidt Company designed and manufactured numerous models of parlour instruments including lap harps, autoharps, germania harps, chord zithers, regent zithers, and ukelins. The company, now owned by U.S...
Co.—La Scala, Stella, and Sovereign. They sold not only Harmony products, but instruments under the Sears name, Silvertone
Silvertone (instruments)
Silvertone was the brand name used by Sears, Roebuck and Company for its line of sound equipment from 1915 to 1972. A hand-cranked phonograph was introduced under the Silvertone brand by Sears in 1915...
, and a variety of trade names—Vogue, Valencia, Johnny Marvin, Monterey, Stella
Stella (guitar)
Stella was a brand of guitars. The Stella brand was owned by the Oscar Schmidt Company and was founded around 1899. Stella produced low-mid level stringed instruments. Stella guitars were played by several notable artists including Leadbelly and Charlie Patton. Doc Watson began playing on a Stella...
, and others.
The company peaked in 1964-1965, selling 350,000 instruments, but low-end foreign competition led to the company's demise 10 years later. Between 1945 and 1975, the Chicago firm had mass produced about ten million guitars. The company reduced their output over the years, later focusing on student models sold through JCPenney.
The Harmony Guitar Company ceased in 1975, and sold the Harmony name. The name is now used by an unrelated company based in Lake Barrington, Illinois
Lake Barrington, Illinois
Lake Barrington is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,757 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lake Barrington is located at ....
that imports guitars from Asia.
Vintage Harmony guitars have become a popular item for collectors and often fetch high prices on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.
In 2009, the name and trademark of Harmony were purchased by the Westheimer Corp., and vintage Harmony guitars are reissued.
See also
- Harmony Company modelsHarmony Company ModelsThe Harmony Company of Illinois, United States, manufactured a wide variety of musical instruments which were popular during most of the 20th century. This article is devoted to documenting these instruments.- Numbering convention :...
- Oscar Schmidt Inc.Oscar Schmidt Inc.The Oscar Schmidt Company designed and manufactured numerous models of parlour instruments including lap harps, autoharps, germania harps, chord zithers, regent zithers, and ukelins. The company, now owned by U.S...
Related brands
- Stella (guitar)Stella (guitar)Stella was a brand of guitars. The Stella brand was owned by the Oscar Schmidt Company and was founded around 1899. Stella produced low-mid level stringed instruments. Stella guitars were played by several notable artists including Leadbelly and Charlie Patton. Doc Watson began playing on a Stella...
- Silvertone (instruments)Silvertone (instruments)Silvertone was the brand name used by Sears, Roebuck and Company for its line of sound equipment from 1915 to 1972. A hand-cranked phonograph was introduced under the Silvertone brand by Sears in 1915...
- Airline (guitar)
External links
- Harmony Guitars Company Website
- Harmony Database, non commercial resource
- Harmony Variations and Photos at King of Kays
- Harmony at National Music Museum
- Harmony at Broadway Music Co.
- Unofficial Harmony Guitar Web site and Home Page for "Harmony, The People's Guitar."