1. Zildjian Cymbals - Made by the
Oldest Family Business in America

2. The well known Avedis Zildjian
Company is the world's largest
manufacturer of cymbals and gongs.
Founded in 1623 in Istanbul, Turkey,
it is also the oldest family-run
business in America (Family Business
Magazine), at nearly 400 years old.

3. The first Zildjian cymbals were made by an Armenian
alchemist named Avedis Zildjian, who was looking for a
way to turn base metal into gold. While of course he had
no success at this, he did create an alloy combining tin,
copper and silver into a sheet of metal that when struck,
would make musical sounds rather than shatter. The
Sultan himself gave Avedis the name Zildjian, meaning
"cymbal maker" in Turkish. Zildjian started his company
in 1623, but kept the manufacturing process secret.
Sixteen generations later this secret is still kept from the
prying eyes of the world and especially other cymbal
makers. This closely guarded secret is known only to the
heirs of the Avedis Zildjian Company.

4. The Zildjian Company started out making noisemakers to
intimidate enemies of the Ottoman Empire, but by the
19th century had turned their trade into making cymbals
as musical instruments. In 1908 Avedis Zildjian III left the
old world and moved to Boston, and in 1926 Aram
Zildjian negotiated exclusive rights to distribute Zildjian
cymbals with the drum maker Gretsch. By 1928 Avedis III
and Aram were manufacturing cymbals in Quincy,
Massachusetts, competing with the K Zildjian company in
Turkey which eventually closed in 1970. Avedis III is
responsible for many of the modern innovations in
cymbals. He created drum-set cymbals, and gave them
their names: ride, crash, splash and hi-hat.

5. Jazz drummers including such legends as Buddy Rich,
Gene Krupa, Louie Bellson, Cozy Cole, Papa Jo Jones,
and Shelly Manne, all used Zildjian cymbals and do many
well known drummers today. Avedis III's son Armand
developed personal relationships with many of the top
drummers of his time, hand-picking cymbals to best suit
each drummer. This became the basis for Zildjian's Artist
relations department, and earned Armand the title of
"Father of Artist Relations."
In 1968, the Avedis Zildjian Company bought the K Zildjian
Company and all European trademarks, and opened a
second manufacturing facility, the Azco factory in
Canada.

6. The Quincy plant made cymbals using the traditional
method of hammering, with a drop hammer. In 1970 the
Azco factory developed the modern method of pressing
cymbals into shape. In 1977 Armand was appointed
President by his father. Shortly after, his brother Robert
split from the company and began to produce Sabian
cymbals, another populat cymbal amongst drummers
today.
Armand was honored with a number of awards during his
long career. Following family tradition, he passed the
secret of the famous cymbal alloy on to his daughters,
Craigie and Debbie, both of whom run the business
today.

7. Sources:
http://www.smartdj.com/Zildjian.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Zildjian-Cymbals---Made-by-theOldest-Family-Business-in-America&id=1321285