In 1964, Kay Musical Instruments moved to a new factory in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Only a few were made and they are quite rare today.ġ965 Kay Titan I thought you would be interested in this with Kay designed Bigsby style tremolo In 1934 Kay, in response to National’s resonator guitars introduced the “Wood Amplifying Guitar.” It was a faux resonator that used wooden coverplate under which is a “wooden” resonating chamber with a trough that ‘feeds’ the sound upward to the dual grille holes. The Kay Musical Instrument Company moved to a new building, in 1935, at 1640 W. With the Stromberg-Voisinet company now recognized as a leader in their field, business expanded quickly, and by 1934 Kuhrmeyer repaid the debts he owed. The unit is connected with the amplifier, which produces the tone and volume required of the instrument.” The electro-magnetic pick-up is built within the instrument and is attached to its sounding board. It consists of two major units – an electro-magnetic pick-up and amplifying unit. The Music Trades article explains, “This tone amplifier is electrically operated either by alternating or direct currents. Stromberg-Voisinet “electrified” instruments were developed into a commercial product that was marketed to the public. Interior of the guitar, shows the Stromberg pickup inside Stromberg-Voisinet produced the first commercial electric guitar, the Stromberg Electro, in 1928. Stromberg-Voisinet has a special place in guitar history. Kuhrmeyer had done considerable work on amplification and worked very closely with the United Reproducers Corporation of St. Kuhrmeyer took the newest technology in amplification and applied it to Stromberg-Voisinet’s guitars. Kuhrmeyer negotiated with his employees a 40-hour work week, a first in the music industry. Henry was involved in the daily operation of the factory along with the labor negotiations which were always present when dealing with a workforce. He was proud of his employees and their many years of experience. In 1929-30, Kuhrmeyer served as President of the Chicago Zone of the Association of Musical Merchandise Manufacturers. Joseph Zorzi, Philip Gabriel and John Abbott designed, built and improved within their trade and brought forth with their talents an archtop guitar. Kuhrmeyer had been able to lure three very talented luthiers away from a large competitor company, Lyon & Healy. Kay Musical Instruments continued this practice however, Kay did sell many instruments under its own brand, “KayKraft.” Kay also made guitars under a few different brand names, such as Silvertone, Truetone, Airline, and Old Kraftsman, among others sold through catalogs which was the practice in this era. Stromberg-Voisinet had primarily manufactured mandolins, tenor guitars, tenor banjos and 6-string guitars under its own brand as well as a large number of other brands, as Stromberg-Voisinet was an OEM supplier to many other manufacturers. Mid 1920s Stromberg-Voisinet Hawaiian theme Parlor Guitar from my collection Henry Kuhrmeyer, with no musical background, but was financially successful in the musical instrument business. The new company, “Kay Musical Instruments” was formally established in 1931 from the assets of Stromberg-Voisinet. In 1928, with help of an investor, bought the company. In 1923, Henry Kay Kuhrmeyer joined the company. Stromberg-Voisinet is particulary well-known among serious students of stringed instrument design for its unique “Venetian” body shape, which was used for its mandolins, tenor guitars and 6-string guitars. The 1920s Stromberg-Voisinet instruments were very well made, given their inexpensive prices, and they generally had a unique designs to attract buyers. Like Regal, Harmony and most of their other competitors, Stromberg-Voisinet made relatively inexpensive instruments that were designed to be sold through catalogs. Stromberg-Voisinet was one of numerous companies that built musical instruments in Chicago in the early part of the 20th century. Stromberg-Voisinet was the Chicago company that became Kay around 1931.
In 1921, the company was renamed to Stromberg-Voisinet. The Groeshel Mandolin Company was established in Chicago in 1890. The company lineage started with the Groeshel Mandolin Company. These are still being produced in Elk Grove Village, IL.
Engelhardt-Link purchased the acoustic line of instruments from Kay. However, Kay also produced cellos and basses. Kay guitars are not currently in production. During the 1950s their electric guitars were competitors for the Silvertone and Danelectro guitars. They supplied guitars to Montgomery Wards and others. Kay was founded in 1931 by Henry “Kay” Kuhrmeyer.
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