History
The (pre-Allied) Early Days
T.J. Getzen leaves the Holton Co. after ten years as plant superintendent to start his own business. The Getzen Co., Inc. is born in a converted dairy barn behind the Getzen family residence at 329 E. Getzen St. in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Although manufacturing is still to come, T.J. and his three employees focus on band instrument repair.
Branching out from the band instrument repair business, the Getzen Co. produces its first trombones. The first instruments roll off the line in the summer of 1946, with about 1,000 trombones produced that first year.
Following the success of the first trombones, T.J. Getzen expands again and begins producing trumpets and cornets.
Seeing a growing market and opportunity, T.J. expands the product line again and begins manufacturing piston bugles. The bugles are designed for and used by many of the Drum and Bugle Corps gaining popularity around the country at the time.
J. Robert (Bob) Getzen, son of T.J., is appointed plant manager of the Getzen Co. after ten years of experience within the factory. This marks the beginning of a family tradition in the business that continues today.
Over the decade, the Getzen Co. grows to 80 employees. Production increases along with quality, helping move the company into the higher ranks of the industry with its well-respected line of student band instruments.
The competition even takes notice. Vincent Bach, president of the Vincent Bach Corp., says in 1956, "They certainly are very beautiful horns, and Getzen can be proud of being able to turn out such fine instruments…"
J. Robert Getzen follows in his father's footsteps and resigns as plant superintendent of the Getzen Co. to start his own business, Allied Music Co. Bob opens his business just one mile away from the Getzen Co. in a 3,000-square-foot building at 530 S. Hwy H. The entire company consists of Bob, one employee, and zero customers.
After 21 years in business, T.J. Getzen sells the Getzen Co. to Milwaukee attorney Harold M. Knowlton. Shortly after the purchase, Mr. Knowlton moves the company from its original home in the "old" barn to another facility at 211 W. Centralia St.
With the help of Carl "Doc" Severinsen and many other well-known professional musicians, the Getzen Co. begins designing and manufacturing a complete line of professional trumpets, cornets and flugelhorns. The success of the company's student instruments carries over to the new professional line.
From 1960 until 1990, the Getzen family did not own the Getzen name. That's why Allied Music and Allied Supply were not named Getzen Music or Getzen Supply, and why Don Getzen would later name his company D.E.G. — Donald E. Getzen.
On October 13, nearly the entire Getzen factory is destroyed by a late-night fire. The fire begins around 12:30 a.m. and burns until after 2 a.m. The offices and some storage areas survive, but extensive fire, smoke and water damage leave most of the factory a complete loss.
Almost immediately after the flames are extinguished, plans begin for a new factory. Just a month later, construction is underway on the same site. By early December, things are moving so quickly that January 1964 is set as the target for manufacturing to resume.
Meanwhile, Allied Music Corp. continues to grow, adding customers and full-time staff.
Just five months after the fire, the new Getzen factory opens. Production is initially limited to a few select models, but within a few months the factory is back to full capacity.
History repeats itself as another Getzen leaves the company to start his own business. Don Getzen, second son of T.J., resigns as Executive Vice President of the Getzen Co. and founds D.E.G. Music Products in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
After seven successful years at the helm of Allied Music, Bob Getzen once again works with his brother Don, and Allied begins manufacturing piston bugles for D.E.G. Music Products.
Following the success of Allied Music Corp., Bob Getzen founds Allied Supply Corp. In the introduction to Allied's first catalog, Bob writes that there is a need for "a central parts source."
Allied Supply specializes in replacement band instrument parts, cases, repair tools and supplies to meet that need. Despite serving band instrument repair shops throughout the world, Allied Supply begins with just a few rows of shelving in the shipping department of the Allied Music building.
At the same time, Bob begins the Allied Music Repair School. The program teaches the many and varied aspects of band instrument repair through a 48-week course covering the steps needed to repair brass and woodwind instruments. Many graduates go on to open repair shops of their own around the country.
History repeats itself again as Allied Music shifts from instrument repair toward instrument production. Allied Music begins producing a full line of trumpets, cornets, trombones and marching brass instruments for D.E.G.
Allied Music and Allied Supply have always been separate business entities. They shared the Allied name and, for a time, a building, but they were always separate companies.
On May 23, fire strikes the Getzen factory again. Damage is limited mainly to the buffing department and service areas, and production is back in full swing within a month.
Meanwhile, Allied Supply has grown enough to occupy its own department within the Allied Music building. With both companies continuing to grow, Bob Getzen sells Allied Supply to his sons, Thomas R. Getzen and Edward M. Getzen. Both have years of experience working for Allied Music and Allied Supply, and the third generation of the family takes its place in the business.
Allied Supply continues to grow and now occupies several hundred square feet within the Allied Music building. The additional space is needed for an expanding product line and growing staff.
After 25 years as president and owner of the Getzen Co., Harold Knowlton sells the company to Charles F. Andrews. Meanwhile, the latest Allied Supply catalog has grown to 196 pages.
After more than 49 years in the industry, Bob Getzen sells Allied Music Co. to his sons Tom and Ed. Despite being semi-retired, Bob continues to play a major role in the company for many years.
Facing increasingly crowded factory space, Allied Supply moves out of the Allied Music building and into its own building next door. The new Allied Supply facility is more than 9,600 square feet — quite a change from a few rows of shelving in a shipping department.
By this time, the Allied Supply catalog has grown to 244 pages with more than 10,000 items for sale.
Another major step is taken as Allied Music begins production of the first Edwards Trombone. Through the Edwards Band Instrument Co., the goal is to build a trombone capable of meeting the demanding needs of the world's best professional trombonists.
After years of building instruments for D.E.G., Allied Music begins production of its own line of instruments. Working hand-in-hand with the world-famous Canadian Brass, the company designs and manufactures instruments to be played and marketed by the group.
Allied Supply is also growing quickly. Needing more room to meet customer demand, the company adds a case warehouse, bringing its total space to more than 11,000 square feet.
After several years of production problems and financial hardship, the Getzen Co., under the direction of Charles Andrews, declares bankruptcy. Shortly thereafter, Allied Music Co., owned by the grandsons of the Getzen Co.'s founder, purchases the assets of the Getzen Co. out of Federal Bankruptcy Court. After 31 years, the company is once again in the hands of the Getzen family — and they once again own their name.
The employees and equipment from the Getzen Co. are moved to their new home on Highway H. The Getzen Co. becomes the parent manufacturing company, while Allied Music becomes a wholly owned subsidiary and repair division.
An 18,000-square-foot addition is built onto the Allied Music building, effectively doubling the size of the factory to accommodate the new equipment and employees. Getzen and Allied Music operate together, sharing resources and personnel between new instrument manufacturing and repair. Tom and Ed pledge to improve the quality of the instruments they produce, beginning the long journey to return the Getzen Co. to its former greatness.
Following the success of Edwards Trombones, the Getzen Co. seriously enters the trombone market with a new line of completely redesigned professional trombones. Improving production quality begins to attract attention as Getzen regains respect as an instrument manufacturer.
Tom and Ed discontinue the Allied Music Repair School, choosing instead to focus those resources on new instrument production.
Again facing space restrictions, Allied Music discontinues its woodwind instrument repair services. Its primary repair work is now brass instruments. A new Allied Supply catalog goes out to customers at 267 pages.
Following the repair school and woodwind department, Allied discontinues its brass instrument repair service. Allied Music is dissolved, and its resources and employees are dedicated to the Getzen Co.
Meanwhile, Getzen continues to regain its standing in the industry as instrument quality improves and new models are introduced.
After more than two decades in business together, Tom Getzen purchases Ed Getzen's shares in both the Getzen Co. and Allied Supply Corp. Tom becomes the sole owner and president of both companies.
Allied Supply prints an updated catalog — now 268 pages with nearly 13,000 items for sale.
The family's long tradition in the business continues with three of Tom Getzen's children, the fourth generation, working in the business.
In February, Allied founder and son of T.J. Getzen, Bob Getzen, passes away after a battle with viral pneumonia. He was 76 years young.
A new Allied Supply catalog goes in the mail at 264 pages and still more than 13,000 unique items.
The newest Allied Supply catalog ships in June.
Tom Getzen sells his majority ownership in the Getzen Company to his sons, Brett and Adam, while remaining the majority owner of Allied Supply Corp.
The fifth generation of the Getzen family begins working at Allied Supply. Over the years, several members of the fifth generation will spend time working in the family's businesses, continuing a tradition that began with T.J. Getzen in 1939.
A 100-year storm drops about eight inches of rain in roughly an hour, inundating 90% of our building with water and sludge. Through hard work, ingenuity and pure Midwestern resilience, we are closed for just one day, and the rebuild is completed over the next five months.
Our newest printed catalog ships on April 18.
The pandemic causes major disruptions around the world. We don't know it at the time, but we print our very last paper price list in 2020. We also say goodbye to the P.O. box we'd had since 1959.
We launch our new website with a customer account dashboard, laying the groundwork for online ordering.
Online ordering launches, giving Allied customers another way to order directly from the same deep inventory of repair parts, tools and supplies we've been building for decades.
Our catalog becomes fully clickable, connecting customers directly from catalog pages to products on our website and online ordering.
Nearly 60 years after Bob wrote about the need for "a central parts source," that's still a pretty good description of what we're trying to be. We'll keep listening to repair technicians, solving problems, finding the things that are hard to find, and looking for better ways to get the job done.