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January 2002
Did You Know??
Three generations of Gretsch Company owners from this 1940's family photo are
(from left to right)
Fred Gretsch, Sr., his grandson & current owner Fred W. Gretsch, & his son Fred Gretsch, Jr.
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Fred Gretsch, Sr. was only fifteen years old
when he took over his father's company.
It's hard to imagine a fifteen year old wearing knickers and
owning a growing music manufacturing company with
twelve employees. But Fred Gretsch, Sr. wasn't your typical
teenager.
In 1895, Fred (who was called Fred, Sr.) was attending
Wright's Business College in New York when he received
the shocking news that his father and founder of the Fred
Gretsch Manufacturing Co., Friedrich (Fred) Gretsch, had
died suddenly while visiting Germany with a brother. His
father was only 39.
Under Fred, Sr.'s youthful leadership, enthusiasm, and
keen business sense, Gretsch flourished to become one
of the world's largest and most respected manufacturers
of musical instruments. From 1895 until his official
retirement in 1942, Fred, Sr. guided Gretsch through one
of the company's most heralded, innovative eras. After
turning over the company reins to his two sons, Bill and
Fred, Jr., Fred, Sr. remained active in the banking industry
until his death fifty years ago in 1952. Today, Fred, Sr.'s
grandson, Fred W. Gretsch, continues the family legacy of
making "That Great Gretsch Sound".
Our current President, Fred W. Gretsch, started
assembling drums very early in life.
Like his father, uncle, and grandfather before him, Fred W.
Gretsch literally grew up in his family's famous
music manufacturing business.
In the early 1950's, Fred's grandfather, Fred, Sr., took the
young lad down to their famous Brooklyn plant and taught
Fred "the Gretsch way" of assembling drum parts. As Fred
grew older, he continued to work in the drum factory after
school and during summer vacations until he joined
Gretsch full time as an industrial engineer in 1965.
Click here for more about the historical background of the
GRETSCH AMERICAN DRUM SERIES SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY!
Visit the History section for more information about THE GRETSCH COMPANY!
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