The Historical past of Gretsch Guitars9778902

The Gretsch Organization truly started out making tambourines. The Brooklyn New York business was founded by Friedrich Gretsch in 1883. Friedrich died unexpectedly in 1895 and his son Fred Sr. headed the business. Fred retired in 1942 and the operating of the business was still left to his sons Fred Jr. and eventually Bill Gretsch. By the mid 1920's the company was creating ukuleles, banjos and drums. They presented a line of tenor guitars in 1927.

The business opened an business office in Chicago in 1930 for product sales and distribution. They did not produce instruments in Chicago. By the mid 1930's Gretsch was distributing different brands of band and string instruments which includes drums. In 1933 they presented a line of Gretsch-American archtop guitars that they marketed with other brands that integrated Kay-Kraft, Rex and Harmony.

http://www.banjoukulele.org