Here’s an interesting little tidbit I picked up today: apparently the February 1971 issue of “The Music Trades” contains a picture with the text “Conn buys former CMI Reynolds plant in Texas. The 100,000 sq. ft. plant built in 1965 is the newest in the band industry. The new Abilene plant will begin operations in late February.”
This implies that instruments made through at least January 1971 were made in Elkhart. For convenience I always assume the cut-off date to be 1 January 1971 (serial numbers Pxx,xxx and up), but of course that was not the case. It also seems to confirm that the move did indeed take place in 1971.
I’ve previously noted that Conn took over operations in 1971, which this article confirms. However, for the blurb to appear in a February 1971 publication, it’s likely that the actual transaction date was in late 1970, given the necessary print lead times.
Further, Reynolds’ public “open house” for the Abilene plant was in April 1965, but the actual move from Cleveland happened in August 1964 and the new factory was being shown in Dec ’64 ads – so the “built in 1965″ note is probably a little off.
Conn/Abilene operations date confirmed
I’ve previously noted that Conn took over operations in 1971, which this article confirms. However, for the blurb to appear in a February 1971 publication, it’s likely that the actual transaction date was in late 1970, given the necessary print lead times.
Further, Reynolds’ public “open house” for the Abilene plant was in April 1965, but the actual move from Cleveland happened in August 1964 and the new factory was being shown in Dec ’64 ads – so the “built in 1965″ note is probably a little off.