Getzen Company, Elkhorn Wisconsin
Inside the factory every department has its own room, which is certainly more pleasant for the employees than the usual large workshops. Although there is an effort to give full attention to the manufacture of every component, the valve block is the heart of the matter at Getzen. Slides and valves are lapped by hand. Bending is done only with a lead alloy which can be melted out at 95°C (203°F) i.e.: with boiling water. The plating department works with nickel, chrome and silver; the usual epoxy lacquer is used. Series are usually of fifty in production and of ten in assembly. Repair work is done only on Getzen instruments. Mouthpieces are obtained externally.
The firm pays particular attention to customer relations. The Getzen Gazette, whose 50’000 copies are distributed to students, teachers, conductors and dealers in the U.S. and abroad, appears three times a year. Many papers written by well known musicians and performers are available free of charge to those interested. These are mostly in the form of advice on handling instruments, breathing, transposition etc.
There is a kind of Brains’ Trust, led by Ed Stevens, to which numerous nationally and internationally known players, musicians and music teachers belong. From this group — and also, according to Ed Stevens, from customers and dealers — come many ideas and suggestions which lead to new developments in building the instruments. There is constant work on improvements. I was told that seven years of development had gone into the current Eterna model of the Getzen Professional trombone. Experience gained here will eventually rebound to the benefit of the student instruments. My visit coincided with the provisional conclusion of a very intensive phase of development for a whole group of instruments. I was told these included the trombone just mentioned, an Eterna C cornet, a marching mellophone, a marching baritone, a piccolo trumpet, a Capri flugelhorn and the new Eterna II professional B♭ trumpet.
The capacity of the factory has more than doubled since 1964. The present market share must be maintained at all costs, a goal which is accompanied by the motto which Harold M. Knowlton, retired President of Getzen, gave his fellow workers as a guideline: an understanding and appreciation of the performer’s requirements plus the desire and know-how to do something about them.
Getzen Company Inc.
211 W. Centralia
Elkhorn, Wisconsin 53121, USA
Phone (414) 723-4221
President: Charles E. Andrews
Vice President: David W. Ference
Interview with Ed Stevens,
Sales Manager
Employees: 60
Repairs: only own instruments.