York Band Instruments

Nat Clark worked for the York Band Instrument Company for over 40 years!  He was hired in New York in 1957 because his older brother was working for Carl Fischer, which owned York at the time.  Nat later moved to the factory in Michigan where he started on the bench buffing instruments.  He soon became a builder and before the end of the decade he was in management.  Nat knew everything there is to know about the plant and its products. Even in retirement he works on instruments in a small shop in his home.  More than anything else, what you need to know about Nat is, he loved is

Don Getzen sure knew the history of the band instruments made in the mid-west! Don’s father was the plant manager for the Holton Company in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, his oldest uncle was the plant manager for the York Band Instrument Company in Michigan and at the same time his other uncle was the plant manager for the CG Conn Company in Elkhart, Indiana. In 1939 Don’s father formed the Getzen Company where he and his brother Bob worked growing up. Don later established DEG Musical in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for which he designed several innovative products, two of which he held patents.

William Scarlett has dedicated his career to band instrument repair and the history of the many instrument makers in and around the mid-west.  He studied the York Band Instrument Company and the many well-known products the company produced over the decades.  Music is in his blood.  His grandfather played cornet as did his father.  So, when it was time for little William to play an instrument, he was given a cornet.  He studied music in college.  In fact, one of his professors was Renold Schilke.  After school he began teaching but was drafted just about a year into his band direc