C.G. Conn

C.G. Conn is an American musical-instrument brand whose origins lie in Charles Gerard Conn’s late-nineteenth-century work in Elkhart, Indiana. Conn, a Civil War veteran and cornet player, entered instrument making after developing a rubber-rimmed mouthpiece intended to ease the pain caused by an injured lip. He patented the mouthpiece in the 1870s and expanded from component manufacture into complete brass instruments. His early partnership with instrument maker Eugene Victor Baptiste Dupont produced the Four-in-One cornet, and Conn subsequently built a substantial factory operation in Elkhart. The enterprise became one of the most important early American makers of band instruments. It manufactured cornets, trumpets, trombones, horns, saxophones, and other wind instruments, while also selling or distributing strings, percussion instruments, portable organs, and imported woodwinds. Conn’s development of saxophones was particularly significant. After examining an Adolphe Sax instrument associated with performer Edward A. Lefebre, the company developed American saxophone production during the late nineteenth century and moved into regular manufacture around 1892. The company also introduced the commercially successful bell-up sousaphone, commonly called the “rain-catcher,” in 1898 after discussions involving John Philip Sousa. Conn’s influence extended beyond products. The company promoted band education, established a conservatory, supported teacher training, and cultivated relationships with music educators. Under Carl D. Greenleaf, who led the reorganized company from 1915 to 1949, Conn shifted distribution from mail order toward retail dealers and promoted school and college band programs as a long-term market for wind instruments. Greenleaf helped organize a national band contest, supported the development of the National Music Camp at Interlochen, and founded the Conn National School of Music. These initiatives connected the brand with the expansion of organized music education in the United States. The company also broadened its corporate portfolio. It introduced the Pan American brand for lower-priced instruments, acquired or controlled businesses such as Leedy, Ludwig and Ludwig, and other music-related operations, and developed a major research and development program. Conn’s laboratory produced innovations including short-action piston valves, the Stroboconn electronic tuning device, the Vocabell and Coprion bell concepts, and influential saxophone models such as the 6M alto, 10M tenor, and 12M baritone. Conn saxophones became associated with a strong American orchestral and dance-band sound and influenced competing manufacturers. The original Conn business accumulated financial difficulties during Charles Conn’s later years, and his assets were sold in 1915 to investors led by Carl D. Greenleaf. The resulting C. G. Conn, Ltd. was incorporated as a new company. In the postwar period, the business increasingly depended on electric organs, and by the 1950s those products represented the larger share of sales revenue. The company was sold to Crowell-Collier-MacMillan in 1969, which closed the Elkhart production facility in 1970 and relied thereafter on satellite facilities and outside contractors for remaining production. After further ownership changes in 1980 and 1985, the business was reorganized under United Musical Instruments in 1986. Steinway Musical Instruments acquired UMI’s assets in 2000, and in January 2003 those assets were combined with other Steinway properties in Conn-Selmer. C.G. Conn survives primarily as a Conn-Selmer brand. Its continuing identity is tied to established professional and educational wind instruments, including the 8D French horn, 88H trombone, 62H bass trombone, 52BSP trumpet, and 1FR flugelhorn.

Charles Gerard Conn’s instrument business began in Elkhart after he developed a rubber-rimmed cornet mouthpiece to accommodate an injured lip. He patented the design in 1875 and soon moved from mouthpiece production to complete instruments. In 1876 he partnered with Eugene V. B. Dupont, whose Four-in-One cornet became an early Conn product. The operation outgrew its original premises, moved into a factory, and attracted skilled European craftsmen. A factory fire in 1883 led to reconstruction, while a second fire in 1910 prompted Conn to build another Elkhart facility. Conn expanded into saxophones after examining an Adolphe Sax instrument owned by Edward A. Lefebre. With Lefebre’s advice, the company developed American saxophone models and began regular production around 1892. It later introduced the bell-up sousaphone in 1898. The business also sold clarinets, flutes, violins, mandolins, percussion instruments, portable organs, and other merchandise through its “Wonder” operations. Conn established a conservatory and used education and performer endorsements to stimulate demand for band instruments. Financial problems eventually forced Charles Conn to sell his holdings. In 1915 investors led by Carl D. Greenleaf acquired the assets and incorporated C. G. Conn, Ltd. Greenleaf reorganized distribution, expanded the product portfolio, and promoted school-band education. Conn introduced Pan American as a second-line brand and acquired or controlled several music businesses, including Leedy and Ludwig and Ludwig. During the 1920s and 1930s the company developed influential saxophones and brass technologies, including drawn and rolled tone holes, short-action valves, the Stroboconn tuning device, and the Coprion seamless copper bell. Conn’s business changed substantially after the Second World War. Electric organs became increasingly important, and by the 1950s they represented most of the company’s sales revenue. Crowell-Collier-MacMillan bought the company in 1969 and closed its Elkhart plant in 1970. Later ownership changes led to reorganization under United Musical Instruments in 1986. Steinway Musical Instruments acquired UMI’s assets in 2000, and Conn’s operations were merged into Conn-Selmer in 2003. The name continues as a Conn-Selmer brand, especially in professional and educational brass and woodwind instruments.

1. 2003Merged into Conn-Selmer

   After Steinway Musical Instruments acquires UMI assets, Conn is combined with other Steinway properties under Conn-Selmer.

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2. 1986Reorganized under United Musical Instruments

   Following ownership changes, Conn is reorganized within United Musical Instruments.

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3. 1970Elkhart factory closed

   The new owner closes Conn’s Elkhart production facility, shifting remaining manufacture to satellite facilities and contractors.

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4. 1969Acquired by Crowell-Collier-MacMillan

   The musical-instrument company is sold to publishing group Crowell-Collier-MacMillan.

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5. 1928Experimental Laboratory opened

   Conn establishes a dedicated research laboratory that develops valves, tuning technology, bell designs, and saxophone innovations.

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6. 1917Pan American second-line brand introduced

   Conn introduces Pan American instruments to serve a lower-priced segment of the band-instrument market.

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7. 1915C. G. Conn, Ltd. incorporated

   Investors led by Carl D. Greenleaf acquire Conn’s holdings and establish the incorporated company.

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8. 1898Bell-up sousaphone

   The company develops a commercially successful upward-facing sousaphone associated with John Philip Sousa.

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9. 1892Regular saxophone production

   Conn moves from prototypes toward regular production of American-made saxophones.

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10. 1876Conn and Dupont partnership

    Conn joins Eugene V. B. Dupont, who designs the Four-in-One cornet with interchangeable crooks.

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11. 1875Rubber-rimmed mouthpiece patent

    Conn patents an elastic mouthpiece rim intended to reduce fatigue and injury for cornet players.

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12. 1874Conn begins making mouthpieces

    Charles G. Conn adapts a lathe made from a sewing-machine frame to produce mouthpieces after developing a rubber-rim concept for injured lips.

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A heritage American wind-instrument brand positioned around professional, orchestral, concert-band, marching-band, and music-education use. Its historical reputation rests on durable brass construction, distinctive saxophone designs, and long-standing adoption by performers, educators, and institutional music programs.

• Conn 8DFrench horn

  A long-established Conn orchestral French horn model and one of the brand’s best-known continuing professional offerings. It is associated with the traditional Conn sound and has been used in orchestral, concert-band, and advanced educational settings.

• Conn 88HTenor trombone

  A prominent professional tenor trombone model identified with Conn’s orchestral and concert-band heritage. The 88H remains one of the principal instruments through which the brand is recognized in contemporary brass markets.

• Conn 62HBass trombone

  A bass-trombone model retained among Conn’s historically important instruments. It represents the brand’s focus on large orchestral brass instruments for professional and institutional players.

• Conn 52BSPTrumpet

  A professional trumpet associated with Conn’s continuing brass range. The model belongs to the brand’s modern heritage portfolio alongside its better-known horn and trombone lines.

• Conn 1FRFlugelhorn

  A Conn flugelhorn model reflecting the company’s broader brass specialization beyond orchestral horns, trumpets, and trombones.

• Conn New Wonder saxophonesSaxophone

  A historically influential family of Conn saxophones that gained attention among dance-band players in the 1920s. Their strong, rich American tonal profile influenced competing makers in Europe and elsewhere.

• Conn 6M, 10M, 12M and 14MSaxophone1930

  A group of influential saxophone designs developed by Conn’s research and development specialists during the 1930s, covering alto, tenor, baritone, and bass instruments. The models incorporated distinctive neck, tone-hole, and keywork approaches.

• 1928Conn National School of Music

  United States

  Conn founded a school focused on training band directors and strengthening music education infrastructure.

  Outcome. The program trained hundreds of directors and helped associate Conn with the expansion of American school-band education.

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• 1923National band contest and school-band promotion

  United States

  Carl D. Greenleaf promoted organized band education, helped organize a national band contest, and strengthened ties between instrument manufacturing and music educators.

  Outcome. The initiative supported the growth of school and community band programs, creating a durable institutional market for wind instruments.

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• 2003Integration into Conn-SelmerM&A

  Steinway Musical Instruments acquired the assets of United Musical Instruments in 2000.

  What changed. Conn’s assets were merged with other Steinway properties into the Conn-Selmer subsidiary.

  Aftermath. C.G. Conn continued as a heritage musical-instrument brand within Conn-Selmer.

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• 1969Sale to Crowell-Collier-MacMillanM&A

  Conn’s business had shifted substantially toward electric organs, while its traditional Elkhart manufacturing base faced changing economics.

  What changed. Crowell-Collier-MacMillan acquired the company and closed the Elkhart facility in 1970.

  Aftermath. Remaining production moved to satellite facilities and contractor sources, beginning a period of further ownership and organizational changes.

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• 1915Sell and reorganize the indebted Conn businessStrategy

  Charles Conn faced substantial debts after business difficulties, litigation, and unsuccessful ventures.

  What changed. His holdings were sold to investors led by Carl D. Greenleaf, who incorporated C. G. Conn, Ltd.

  Aftermath. The new company expanded production, modernized distribution, and developed education-focused demand under Greenleaf’s leadership.

  Trust deed securing Conn’s debts. $200,000 (1911)

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1. C. G. Conn