Maker/Dealer
W.J. Gronert
Elkhart, IN
USA
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In 1911 founded Elkhart Musical Instrument Co, and in 1916 started American Manufacturing Co, with Pedler. In 1917, he merged Elkhart Musical Instrument Co. into Martin.
- 1851 William Joseph Gronert is born in Hastings, England
1865 Gronert enlists in British army as musician, trumpeter; serves 9 years
1874 Gronert emigrates to the US and joins the 17th US Infantry
as a musician
1880 listed in census as a musician living in Elkhart and
boarding with instrument maker Jacob Berkley
1881 Gronert marries Alice in Elkhart in January; daughter
Geraldine is born in October in Chicago
1884 daughter Charlotte is born in November in Elkhart
1885 Gronert joins Conn and becomes his factory manager
1900 William C. Reid (1875-1963) is a machinist in Elkhart
1910 Reid is a music shop owner; Gronert is factory manager
1911 Elkhart Musical Instrument Co. is founded; Gronert
president, Reid secretary & treasurer; #916-920 Prospect
St.; incorporated in June, 1911 with $25,000 capital
1911 Gronert is granted design patent #D43276 on Nov. 26th
for a cornet matching his ‘Masterpiece Grand’ model
(photos 1-3); Reid is granted patent #1,023,330 on April
16th for a piston valve guide (assignor to EMI Co)
1916 Harry Pedler quits Conn and starts the American
Manufacturing Co. with William J. Gronert, #430 Baldwin
St., Elkhart
1916 Gronert’s law suit with Conn from four years ago is settled
in January. He had been seeking $150,000 but the final
terms were not disclosed. This came about from an early
agreement for Conn to pay Gronert $0.50 for every
instrument produced under his management.
Gronert & Reid are granted patent #1,171,191 for a building
block; on Oct. 10th they are granted patent #1,201,039 for a
tuning slide matching that on the ‘Super Grand’ model; Reid’s son William T. is working for them.
a four-valve ‘Invincible’ model cornet is marked ‘Patent
Allowed July 9, 1913’ which does not fit with any known
patent granted (photos 7-9); these have a 4th valve that
locks down for a key change to A
1917 EMI Co. merges with Martin and Gronert becomes GM
1919 Gronert dies in July; the American Mfg. Co. is re-named
the Harry Pedler Co. perhaps after the 1920 Census;
woodwinds only; Gronert’s obituary lists him as Martin
Band Instrument Co.’s GM and secretary
1920 Reid is listed as a horn maker (probably for Martin)
1939 Reid is still listed as a band instrument maker
1963 Reid dies in Elkhart
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