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NOISE MAKERS
The Boston Globe
April 26, 2009 Sunday
1618 Avedis I, an Armenian alchemist living in Constantinople,
discovers a new way of making alloy for cymbals. He is given the name
Zildjian, or "son of cymbal maker" in Armenian.
1623 The first Zildjian cymbal foundry opens in Samatya, near
Constantinople.
1651 Avedis bequeaths his secret process of making alloys to his
oldest son, Ahkam, who takes over the business. The enterprise would
be run by male family members for generations to come.
1865 Avedis II dies, and his younger brother Kerope succeeds him. The
company exports about 1,300 pairs of cymbals throughout Europe each
year, winning honors at exhibitions in Paris (1867), Vienna (1873),
Boston (1883), Chicago (1893), and Bologna (1888, 1907).
1909 A second Zildjian factory opens in Bucharest.
1929 Avedis III incorporates Zildjian as a business in Quincy, with
its first foundry at 39 Fayette St.
1940s The US government rations metals during World War II, allocating
enough for Zildjian to fill orders for the US and British military.
1950 Zildjian's workforce grows to 15 people, and production increases
to 70,000 cymbals per year.
1964 After the Beatles appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Zildjian
ends the year with more than 90,000 cymbals on back order.
1973 Zildjian opens its plant in Norwell.
1976 Avedis III breaks tradition and invites his granddaughter Craigie
to join the business.
1979 After Avedis III dies, his sons Armand and Robert take
over. Disagreements between the brothers end up in court, and the
younger Robert leaves.
1980 Craigie's sister Debbie joins the company.
1981 Robert launches Sabian company in Canada and begins making
cymbals to rival Zildjian's.
1988 Zildjian ships 300,000 cymbals from Norwell. The company opens
a drumstick factory in Moundville, Ala.
1995 The orchestral room opens at the Norwell facility, and is used
by musicians from the Boston Symphony and London Symphony orchestras
to select and match cymbals.
1998 To celebrate its 375th anniversary, Zildjian launches the
American Drummers Achievement Awards at an event at the Berklee
College of Music.
1999 Craigie becomes CEO, the first woman to hold the title. Debbie
is appointed vice president for human resources and assumes custody
of the family's secret recipe for alloys.
SOURCES: The Avedis Zildjian Co. website (www.zildjian.com) and
Globe archives
The Boston Globe
April 26, 2009 Sunday
1618 Avedis I, an Armenian alchemist living in Constantinople,
discovers a new way of making alloy for cymbals. He is given the name
Zildjian, or "son of cymbal maker" in Armenian.
1623 The first Zildjian cymbal foundry opens in Samatya, near
Constantinople.
1651 Avedis bequeaths his secret process of making alloys to his
oldest son, Ahkam, who takes over the business. The enterprise would
be run by male family members for generations to come.
1865 Avedis II dies, and his younger brother Kerope succeeds him. The
company exports about 1,300 pairs of cymbals throughout Europe each
year, winning honors at exhibitions in Paris (1867), Vienna (1873),
Boston (1883), Chicago (1893), and Bologna (1888, 1907).
1909 A second Zildjian factory opens in Bucharest.
1929 Avedis III incorporates Zildjian as a business in Quincy, with
its first foundry at 39 Fayette St.
1940s The US government rations metals during World War II, allocating
enough for Zildjian to fill orders for the US and British military.
1950 Zildjian's workforce grows to 15 people, and production increases
to 70,000 cymbals per year.
1964 After the Beatles appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Zildjian
ends the year with more than 90,000 cymbals on back order.
1973 Zildjian opens its plant in Norwell.
1976 Avedis III breaks tradition and invites his granddaughter Craigie
to join the business.
1979 After Avedis III dies, his sons Armand and Robert take
over. Disagreements between the brothers end up in court, and the
younger Robert leaves.
1980 Craigie's sister Debbie joins the company.
1981 Robert launches Sabian company in Canada and begins making
cymbals to rival Zildjian's.
1988 Zildjian ships 300,000 cymbals from Norwell. The company opens
a drumstick factory in Moundville, Ala.
1995 The orchestral room opens at the Norwell facility, and is used
by musicians from the Boston Symphony and London Symphony orchestras
to select and match cymbals.
1998 To celebrate its 375th anniversary, Zildjian launches the
American Drummers Achievement Awards at an event at the Berklee
College of Music.
1999 Craigie becomes CEO, the first woman to hold the title. Debbie
is appointed vice president for human resources and assumes custody
of the family's secret recipe for alloys.
SOURCES: The Avedis Zildjian Co. website (www.zildjian.com) and
Globe archives