Oldest US businesses are music related

Subject: Oldest US businesses are music related
From: josepp
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 04:13 PM

5 of the top 6 oldest businesses in the world are Japanese and none are music related (hotels, religious stuff) and date back to the early 8th century. First construction firm is Japanese from 10th century. First metalworking, confectionary, tea, chemicals--all Japanese.

The oldest brewery is German from the 11th century. UK had the first mint from the 9th century. Japan and Germany had the first pharmacies. France had the first winery.

These are all companies still in operation at least in some capacity, by the way.

The oldest US business is Avedis Zildjian Cymbals which was founded in 1623. At first, I was like--no way! Who were they selling them to? The Indians? "Chief Powhattan say paleface make 'em heap good cymbal! Now tom-tom ensemble kickin' it on Saturday night!" But Zildjian was founded in Turkey. Now, that makes a bit more sense. But when Zildjian came to the US, the whole operation came here.

Besides that, the earliest U.S. businesses were farms: the Shirley Plantation and Fieldview Farms from the late 1630s. Then the Emery Farm from the 1650s. The oldest operating US hotel business was founded in 1667. More than 1100 years after Japan's. Strictly speaking, Japan has the oldest instrument-manufacturer from the 18th century because it never left Japanese soil. Zildjian didn't come to the US until the 20th century.

The oldest music firm in America is, of course, C.F. Martin from 1833. Gretsch instruments start around 1888. I think Lyon & Healy started making the Washburn guitar line around that time. Lyon & Healy actually came out of Boston as a subsidiary of Oliver Ditson's music empire. Oliver Ditson is the man the world ultimately owes its love of the guitar to. He made it happen.

Hail Ditson!

Below is a list of the oldest operating companies. Check out how many are Japanese. It's utterly mind-boggling. And we wonder why they are such tough competition. They've been doing it WAY WAAAAAY long than we have.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_companies

Subject: RE: Oldest US businesses are music related
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 11:14 PM

Interesting! Thanks, josepp.