The Kay’s origins date back to the 1890’s with the Groeschel Mandolin Company of Chicago Illinois. The companies name was changed to “Stromberg-Voisinet” in 1921.In 1923 Henry Kay ”Hank” Kuhrmeyer joined the company and worked his way up to the top. By 1928 Kuhrmeyer bought the company. By 1934 the official name of the Company was The Kay Musical Instrument Company.
In 1965 the company hit rough times and was bought by Seeburg which was a Jukebox manufactorer and in 1967 sold Kay to Valco. Kay/Valco went out of business soon afterwards and its assets were auctioned off. Syl Weindling and Barry Hornstein of W.M.I. (the main importer of Teisco Del Rey products) purchased the Kay brand name during this time. As a result of this Teisco and Kay's name were used on Teisco Del Rey Guitars.
The Popular Kay Electric and Acoustic Vintage Guitars
Countless of musicians have used Kay Electric and Acoustic Guitars over the years. Lefty Frizzell’s 1959 Ballad “ Long Black Veil” and “The night they drove Old Dixie Down” sung by the Band’s Levon Helm were a few along with Hank Williams' version of “I saw The Light” recorded with his 15 dollar Kay Guitar.
Competing with the Harmony brand Vintage Acoustic and Electric catalogue guitars was the Kay Guitar Company. They were easily distinguishable by the Deco Art pattern on the Kay's Headstock. They both manufactured the “department store” low end guitars from the 30’s into the 60’s. They have both become a collectable piece of Americana. Kay had some Archtop models that are very desirable for vintage guitar collectors. One Archtop Vintage guitar was the Kelvinator Guitar. The Kelvinator guitar had the plastic overlay on the headstock with its art deco pattern.
They were unique and retro, interesting and easy to recognize. The pattern on the headstock was named after a brand of refrigerator that looked the same. The overlay was acrylic plastic that was mold-injected then painted either white or black.
The Kay Kelvinator Vintage Guitar
Starting in late 1960, Kay switched to the less expensive "half" Kelvinator overlay that used just the triangle Kay crest from the Kelvinator and screwed that to black plastic veneer. This design lasted to the end of 1961 when Kay dropped the Kelvinator headstock completely. Kay also made other brands of guitars for different department stores.
This includes “Old Kraftsman” for Spiegel Co., Penncrest for J.C. Penney, Supertone Sears & Roebuck, Suprema distributed by Eatons Canada, Airline distributed by Montgomery Wards, Barclay distributed by Monroe and P & H, Custom Craft distributed by St. Louis Music. And the “Sherwood Deluxe” for Montgomery Ward. The famous brand Sivertone for Sears and Roebuck and “Orpheum through the 50’s and the 60’s.
Kay has produced many models of Acoustic And Electric Arch Top & Flat Top Guitars
Kay was one of the first companies to produce a line of inexpensive instruments many models bringing the guitar to millions of homes in America. Kays production and distribution methods became a model for other manufacturers in the blooming guitar years of the 50's and the 60's. Despite the reputation of being inexpensive The Kay Guitar Company produced a short lived line of professional guitars some that are highly vauled by vintage guitar collectors today.
References
- King of Kay's- http://home.provide.net/~cfh/other.html
- Antique Vintage Guitar Collectors Info.com
- Fretland Kay Vintage Reissue
Jim Galloway - Professional Musician/Published Songwriter for 30 yrs. With over 200 Articles in Recording/Music Buisness/ Resources/Vintage Instruments
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