[TPIN] "True Bach" horns being built

[Thomas Meacham]

This item from the Elkhart, Indiana Truth newspaper:

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Horns touted as 'True Bach'
Instruments manufactured by replacement workers debut

Published: Friday, January 19, 2007 -- The Truth, C1
Last updated: 1/18/2007 11:37:59 PM
By Marilyn Odendahl
Truth Staff Writer
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- With thousands of music industry professionals 
attending the 2007 National Association of Music Manufacturers trade 
show, Conn-Selmer is unveiling the horns being built by the replacement 
workers at its Vincent Bach facility.

In April 2006, the members of United Auto Workers Local 364 went on 
strike at the Vincent Bach plant in Elkhart, Ind. The union walked out 
after rejecting a contract that, among other things, called for wage 
cuts, insurance rate hikes, mandatory overtime and did not clearly 
state shop rules.

When the strike began, Conn-Selmer reviewed every process and procedure 
used to make the Bach trumpet, explained Rich Breske, spokesman for the 
musical instrument maker. By comparing how the Vincent Bach facility 
made the horns with the way the instrument's namesake actually built 
the trumpets in the early 20th century, changes were made and the 
company is now touting the new construction methods and new 
Stradivarius horns as "True Bach."

"We had an opportunity" with the strike to look at how the Bach horns 
were being made, Breske said. "We really didn't want the opportunity 
but we took it."

A press release about the new horns said production supervisors in the 
Vincent Bach facility took over all operations when the strike started 
and used the "large amount" of work-in-process inventory to "help meet 
much of the demand on the first half of 2006."

By July, when the replacement workers were starting to be hired, the 
company introduced what it calls the "corrected methods."

In the release, the company acknowledged it has not been able to 
fulfill dealer orders but, it contended, this is not the first time 
demand has outstripped supply for Bach Stradivarius instruments and 
that dealers are receiving shipments daily.

"We're very, very proud of the product quality," Breske said.

Along with the new Bach horns, Conn-Selmer is using the NAMM show to 
introduce its new Leblanc by Backun clarinets. In particular, the 
instruments feature redesigned keywork to allow the musicians to do 
more musically.

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Contact Marilyn Odendahl at modendahl at etruth.com.