TromboneChat

What is the history of Olds instrument factories?

I see some bells engraved L.A.and others read Fullerton.

The Los Angeles horns are from the original factory or iteration of olds. The Fullerton i guess can be called 2nd generation. Fullerton and L.A. are only 20 miles apart , so essentially they're the same location. I don't know if the L.A. horns were actually built in L.A. proper or if it was a generalization location wise.

The F.E.Olds Company was indeed originally located in Los Angeles, beginning in about 1912.
In 1954, they moved the offices and manufacturing operations from Raymond Avenue in Los Angeles to a larger facility (on Raymond Avenue!) in Fullerton, California (about 30 miles away), where the company remained until it closed the doors in 1979. Many of us still lament the events that led to the end of this once proud instrument manufacturer. I started out in 7th grade with a shiny new Olds A20 Ambassador, and still play Olds trombones.

Here's some history:
https://FEOlds.com/about/

Fullerton/Anaheim back in the 30’s-60’s was kind of an early version of modern day Silicon Valley.
Among other things, it was a hotbed for innovation in musical instrument technology: it’s where the electric guitar was invented by Adolph Rickenbacker and George Beauchamp and later Leo Fender continued with his innovations.
While other companies have either folded or moved, the Rickenbacker corporation is the lone survivor that is still located in Anaheim.

chromebone wrote: ↑Wed Oct 19, 2022 8:09 pm Fullerton/Anaheim back in the 30’s-60’s was kind of an early version of modern day Silicon Valley.
Among other things, it was a hotbed for innovation in musical instrument technology: it’s where the electric guitar was invented by Adolph Rickenbacker and George Beauchamp and later Leo Fender continued with his innovations.
While other companies have either folded or moved, the Rickenbacker corporation is the lone survivor that is still located in Anaheim.

Not to forget Kanstul, also located in Anaheim. Sad to see them go.

The original Olds "factory" was a barn behind the Olds residence (neither building survives) at 204 W. 24th Street in Los Angeles. In the early 1920's, the company moved north and west a couple miles to 1914 Raymond Avenue (AFAIK, that building is still there). In the early 1950's, they moved south to Fullerton (also on a street named Raymond Avenue). I drive by the old Fullerton site several times a week; the building is still there.