They also sold to Britain, South Africa and Australia. This was largely due to Oscar Schmidt’s aggressive selling, traveling and establishing branches in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, St. The business became successful so quickly that by 1900 they were selling Menzenhauer guitar-zithers not only throughout the United States but all round the world. (For links to photos and information on fretless zithers see Footnote 4.) “The success of a commercial contract between a clever inventor and a shrewd, far-seeing business man has never been better illustrated in the musical industries than in the prosperous firm of Menzenhauer & Schmidt”. They expanded the factory and enjoyed immediate success: At the same time Oscar Schmidt obviously saw the potential of Menzenhauer’s invention, and from being his customer, he partnered with Frederick Menzenhauer in 1896 and they formed the firm Menzenhauer & Schmidt, with Oscar Schmidt as the junior partner. It was so successful demand outstripped production.įrederick Menzenhauer realized he was more of an engineer than a businessman and needed a business partner. He was an inventor and developed and patented the fretless Menzenhauer guitar-zither. By 1887 he was living in Jersey City, NJ, and was known as a maker of musical instruments. Menzenhauer was born in Germany in 1858 and came to America in 1882. (Frederick) Menzenhauer, who had a factory in Ferry Street, Jersey City. (Jersey City of To-Day, 1910)ĭuring this time, he was buying guitar zithers from inventor and manufacturer, W.F. He engaged in the publishing business in 1882, and continued therein until 1896, when he was involved in selling musical instruments in a small shop in the two-storey repair establishment of the North Hudson Street Railway Company on Palisade Avenue New Jersey. Oscar Schmidt was born in Germany in 1857 and came to the US at an early age. Oscar Schmidt’s fortune was built on another man’s invention. General information also comes from Neil Harpe’s book and website (See footnote 3.). Most of the information here deals with the early formation and evolution of the company and has been obtained primarily from old copies of the Music Trade Review (MTR) and Presto publications, both available online. They are best known for the Zithers they produced in the early 1900’s, and for their early guitars, particularly the Stella label, and their 12-string guitars, which are still favored and sought after by blues players today (see Footnote 1.). The Oscar Schmidt company was founded in the late 1890’s and incorporated in 1911.
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