Avedis Zildjian Company facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Musical Instruments |
| Founded | 1623 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire |
| Founder | Avedis Zildjian |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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| Products | Cymbals, drumsticks, gongs, crotales, zills |
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The Avedis Zildjian Company, known simply as Zildjian, is a company that makes cymbals and other instruments for drummers. It was started by the Armenian Zildjian family in 1623 in the Ottoman Empire. Later, the company moved to the United States. Today, Zildjian is the largest maker of cymbals and drumsticks in the world.
Zildjian is based in Norwell, Massachusetts. It is the oldest maker of musical instruments in the world. It is also one of the oldest companies still running today. Zildjian sells cymbals, drumsticks, and other drum gear. They sell these under the Zildjian, Vic Firth, and Balter Mallet brands.
Contents
History of Zildjian Cymbals
How It All Started
The first Zildjian cymbals were made in 1618 by Avedis Zildjian. He was an Armenian metalsmith and alchemist. He worked for the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople. Avedis discovered a special metal mix. It was made of tin, copper, and silver. This mix could make musical sounds without breaking.
Sultan Mustafa I was very impressed. He gave Avedis money and officially named his family Zildjian. This name means "Son of a Cymbal Maker" or "Family of Cymbalsmiths". In 1623, the Sultan let Avedis leave the palace. He started his own business in Constantinople.
Zildjian's shop made cymbals for the Ottoman military bands. These bands played music for rulers and in battles. The Zildjians also made instruments for churches and dancers. Dancers in the Ottoman harem wore small finger cymbals.
After Avedis died, the business and its secret metal recipe were passed down. Only male family members learned the secret. In the 1800s, Avedis II took over. He built a ship to take cymbals to trade shows in Europe. He wanted more musicians to hear their sound.
Avedis II died in 1865. His brother Kerope II then led the company. Kerope II created a new line of cymbals called K Zildjian. These cymbals are still used by classical musicians today. Kerope II died in 1909.
Moving to the 20th Century
After Kerope's death, the business went back to Avedis's side of the family. Aram Zildjian took charge. He was involved in a movement to protect Armenians during a time of political trouble. He was linked to a plot against the Sultan in 1905. So, Aram had to leave and went to Bucharest. There, he started a small cymbal workshop.
While Aram was away, Kerope II's daughter Victoria looked after the factory in Constantinople. Aram is thought to have returned in 1926.
Avedis III, another family member, had moved to the United States in 1909. He settled in Boston and started a candy business. In 1927, his uncle Aram wrote to him. Aram said Avedis III would be the next leader of the family business. Aram then came to the US. In 1928, Avedis III, his brother Puzant, and uncle Aram began making cymbals in Quincy, Massachusetts. The Avedis Zildjian Co. officially started in 1929.
Avedis III worked with jazz drummers like Gene Krupa. He wanted to understand what they needed. The new cymbals he made became very popular with swing and bebop musicians. This helped create the modern drum kit and playing styles.
Zildjian cymbal sales grew a lot after Ringo Starr used them. This happened when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. The company had so many orders that they opened a second factory. This new factory, called Azco, opened in Meductic, Canada, in 1968.
In 1975, Zildjian started making K. Zildjian cymbals at the Azco plant. By 1980, all K Cymbals were made in the US plant in Norwell. This was because K cymbals needed more careful work. Armand Zildjian worked with drummers Elvin Jones and Tony Williams to bring back the K Series.
In 1977, Armand Zildjian became President of the company. Soon after, his brother Robert Zildjian left the company. In 1981, Robert started his own cymbal company, Sabian, using the Canadian Azco factory.
Recent Times
In 2002, Armand Zildjian passed away at age 81. The secret Zildjian alloy recipe was passed to his daughters, Craigie and Debbie. They are the 14th generation of the family to run the business. They continue to lead the company from its headquarters in Norwell, Massachusetts.
In 2010, Zildjian bought the Vic Firth Company. In 2018, they bought the Mike Balter Mallet company. These purchases helped Zildjian offer a full range of drumsticks and mallets.
See also
- List of oldest companies
- Sabian – Another cymbal maker started by Robert Zildjian
- List of drum makers
