Documenting history as well as my experiences with repairing and restoring vintage guitars.

Home Top Ad

1934 Supertone label Image Credit:  Wright Auctions About The Supertone brand of instruments is said to have originated around 1914 but I be...

Sears-Roebuck & Supertone (1916-1940)

1934 Supertone label
Image Credit: Wright Auctions

About

The Supertone brand of instruments is said to have originated around 1914 but I believe it began in 1916 when Sears-Roebuck purchased the Harmony Musical Instrument Company at 1700 N. Lawndale Avenue. Sears was looking for an edge in the growing instrument market and absorbing the already successful Harmony firm was a strong decision. Despite their ownership stake, Harmony continued to build instruments for competing retailers like Montgomery-Ward and Spiegel. The Supertone brand continued through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression but came to an end in 1940 when the Lawndale Avenue factory sold and Sears sold Harmony to former manager, Jay Kraus. 

1918

Image Credit: Archive.org

1922

Image Credit: Archive.org






No comments: