453:, with some differences from the Beaugnier designs. The two series of Vito saxophones are referred to as Vito-France and Vito-Kenosha. The most distinctive model from this period was the Vito Model 35, with a key system based on the Leblanc "system" design. During the mid-to-late 1960s Leblanc started sourcing saxophone parts from Yamaha for the Vito-Kenosha line, producing saxophones with both American and Japanese parts.
27:
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made by the French firms
Courtois and Beaugnier, respectively, branded "Leblanc." Leblanc's most distinctive saxophones at the time were its Model 100 and 120 "System" saxophones, the latest iteration of instruments designed by G. Leblanc since the early 1930s to alleviate acoustic problems inherent
360:
Orchestra. Pascucci and Miller had discussed opening a musical instrument distributing company and importing instruments after the war. The idea lived on with
Pascucci after Miller died, and he was scouting potential suppliers. He and Leblanc reached an agreement and in 1946 founded the G. Leblanc
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were first marketed by
Leblanc in the late 1960s under the Leblanc and Vito brands, and the Martin brand after 1971, prior to their distribution under Yanagisawa's own name. In 1981 Leblanc became the exclusive marketer and distributor of the Yanagisawa products in the United States and
499:. Leblanc's Martin brand of brasswinds was discontinued and production of Holton brasswinds was moved from Elkhorn, Wisconsin to the Conn-Selmer's facility in Eastlake, Ohio in 2008. Leblanc's French clarinet plant was sold to the Buffet Group in 2008
623:
449:, Leblanc imported Beaugnier saxophone parts to be assembled in Kenosha and sold under the Vito brand. By the late 1950s Vito saxophones were also assembled from parts supplied by the Art Best Manufacturing Company of
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brand. The bores were produced at
Leblanc's Kenosha facility and the hardware was supplied by G. Leblanc Cie. Vito brass instruments were sourced from Holton, which later was acquired by Leblanc in 1964.
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The Vito line of woodwinds was discontinued in 2004, although the equivalent models of saxophones continued to be made by Yamaha and KHS (Jupiter). The Vito line of brasswinds was discontinued in 2007.
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subsidiary. Conn-Selmer closed
Leblanc's Kenosha facility in 2007 and they moved their French operation to their facility in
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Between 1968 and 1970 Leblanc introduced saxophones under the Vito-Japan line, consisting of alto and tenor saxophones from
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345:. In 1904 the company acquired Ets. D. Noblet, the oldest instrument manufacturer in France (established 1750). In 1945,
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In 1989 the
American Leblanc firm acquired majority interest in G. Leblanc Cie. and took over its management. A line of
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was manufactured in Japan for the G. Leblanc corporation. Models include 301-c, 701-f, and possibly others.
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as a source for Vito saxophones in 1981. The KHS versions were sold as models 7133, 7136, 7140, and 7190.
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Leblanc broadened its product line and distribution with the acquisition of several other companies: the
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Beginning in 1951, the
American Leblanc firm started manufacturing student model clarinets under the
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The company manufactured and distributed a wide range of instruments – self produced or through its
396:, manufacturer of musical instrument cases in 1966; the Woodwind Company (manufacturer of woodwind
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404:(brand rights and distribution network for brass instruments and saxophones) acquired from the
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464:(VSP models). Leblanc imported Yamaha flutes for its Vito-Japan line starting in 1970.
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353:(1922–2003), then on duty as the instruments manager and repair technician for the
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In addition to
Leblanc clarinets, the G. Leblanc Corporation started importing
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Musical instrument manufacturing companies of the United States
460:(7131 models), and soprano, alto, and baritone saxophones from
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Ralph
Zumpano Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2010)
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Leon
Pascucci Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2011)
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in the standard key system and offer more fingering choices.
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Nowadays, only clarinets are manufactured and sold under the
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https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ralph-zumpano
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https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/leon-pascucci
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16:Brand of woodwind instruments, former manufacturer
392:(manufacturer of brass instruments) in 1964; the
445:After briefly sourcing its Vito saxophones from
341:by Georges Leblanc late in the 19th century, in
654:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 2004
279:. As a result, Leblanc ceased to exist as an
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321:brand, offering a range from traditional to
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649:Manufacturing companies established in 1946
639:Manufacturing companies based in Wisconsin
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487:The company was sold on 1 August 2004 to
523:on Leblanc website (archive), 6 Feb 2006
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337:"G. Leblanc Cie". was established in
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634:Defunct companies based in Wisconsin
664:2004 disestablishments in Wisconsin
267:manufacturer known mainly for its
94:Company defunct in 2004, became a
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659:1946 establishments in Wisconsin
629:Clarinet manufacturing companies
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271:. In 2004 the firm was sold to
402:Martin Band Instrument Company
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569:Buffet Group acquires B&H
594:NAMM Oral History Collection
557:Reminiscence by Dr. Pascucci
491:and placed under Steinway's
489:Steinway Musical Instruments
277:Steinway Musical Instruments
535:on Conn-Selmer, 12 Nov 2019
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329:and contralto clarinets.
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590:Vito Pascucci Interview
483:Sale and reorganization
586:on Conn-Selmer website
547:on Conn-Selmer website
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384:Reed rush from Leblanc
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361:Corporation based in
281:independent operation
257:manufacturing company
394:Bublitz Case Company
390:Frank Holton Company
294:and brands– such as
263:. The company was a
400:) in 1968; and the
265:woodwind instrument
254:musical instruments
62:Musical instruments
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644:Kenosha, Wisconsin
467:Leblanc added the
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363:Kenosha, Wisconsin
343:La Couture-Boussey
261:Kenosha, Wisconsin
107:Kenosha, Wisconsin
73:La Couture-Boussey
533:Leblanc clarinets
427:classical guitars
358:US Army Air Force
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86:Georges Leblanc
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433:The Vito brand
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53:(2004–present)
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351:Vito Pascucci
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48:(1890s–2004)
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559:June 1, 2009
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355:Glenn Miller
347:Léon Leblanc
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292:subsidiaries
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249:
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229:Bublitz Case
224:Frank Holton
214:Subsidiaries
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131:Léon Leblanc
102:Headquarters
71:c. 1890s in
42:Company type
493:Conn-Selmer
471:company of
398:mouthpieces
312:mouthpieces
273:Conn-Selmer
206:Conn-Selmer
173:mouthpieces
618:Categories
503:References
462:Yanagisawa
415:saxophones
412:Yanagisawa
374:saxophones
370:brasswinds
327:contrabass
300:saxophones
169:Saxophones
121:Key people
406:Wurlitzer
308:trombones
296:clarinets
269:clarinets
259:based in
181:trombones
160:Clarinets
304:trumpets
233:Woodwind
177:trumpets
147:Products
58:Industry
34:Formerly
521:History
333:History
319:Leblanc
208:(2004–)
156:Current
83:Founder
68:Founded
46:Private
20:Leblanc
596:(2003)
473:Taiwan
458:Yamaha
447:Holton
420:Canada
339:France
252:was a
237:Martin
192:Brands
165:Former
77:France
285:brand
202:Owner
96:brand
51:Brand
439:Vito
372:and
310:and
196:Vito
91:Fate
592:at
469:KHS
325:to
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511:^
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314:.
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