Vincent Bach Corporation Sale to H. & A. Selmer, Inc.
The sale to H. & A. Selmer Company in September 1961 was for $750,000 (about 8M dollars in 2024). Most of the purchase price was funded with preferred stock and other securities, such as dividends in the Selmer Company and an employment contract for Vincent that remained for the rest of his life.
The media coverage of Vincent Bach Corporation’s sale to the H. & A. Selmer Company on September 25, 1961, was positively received by the musical instrument industry. This article below highlighted that Vincent Bach Corp. specialized in ‘artist-grade’ brass instruments, while Selmer was one of the leading suppliers of woodwind and brass instruments for the education market.
Vincent Bach and his wife Esther in Mr. Bach’s office at the Mt. Vernon factory, looking at the check ($750,000) for the purchase of Vincent Bach Corporation by H. & A. Selmer Inc.
” H & A Selmer, Inc. Buys Vincent Bach Corporation
Two world famous band instrument makers have joined forces. H. & A. Selmer, Inc., Elkhart, Indiana, has announced the purchase of the Vincent Bach Corporation, Mount Vernon, New York. Vincent Bach Corporation specializes in artist grade trumpets, cornets, trombones. Its brass instrument mouthpieces have become a world standard. Selmer is said to be the world’s largest producers of woodwind musical instruments and is one of the leading suppliers of both woodwind and brass instruments for the educational market.
Production of Bach instruments and mouthpieces will continue in the Mount Vernon plant, said to be one of the most technically advanced brass instrument shops anywhere. It will be under the direction of Vincent Bach, who will remain as president of the Vincent Bach Corporation. He will also serve as an engineering consultant to Selmer in connection with the design and production of its Bundy and Signet brass instruments.
The entire price range from $149.50 student instruments up through $390 artist grade instruments is covered by the combined lines, which include Selmer (Paris), Bach Stradivarius, Bach Mercedes, Bach Mercury, Selmer Signet and Bundy. “In purchasing the Bach Company ,” Feddersen concluded that “We not only have we acquired a valuable plant and product line, but also an invaluable treasure of research, experience, wisdom, and ability, as well as Mr. Bach’s drawings and notes, -that represent a lifetime of work by one of the few authentic masters of brass instrument design in our time. We intend to take the fullest possible advantage of this opportunity.” [1]
” These figured do not reflect any sales or earnings of the Vincent Bach Corporation, Mount Vernon, New York, manufacturer of brass band instruments, which was purchased by Selmer on September 25, 1961. [2]
source: School Musician, Nov. 1961, page 51 [1]
source: South Bend Tribune, Oct. 22, 1961, page 59
source: H. & A. Slemer, Inc.
