1944 The Real Reason for George Bundy Back to Publications

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

This beautful oil painting was presented to Mr. Bundy by Selmer employees in commemoration of his 35 years with Selmer.

It might have happened on any farm in the U.S.A. But this incident occurred on an up-state New York farm back in the gay '90's. After doing the final chores of the day, the hired man and a small barefoot boy came out of the cow barn and sat down on a couple of milk cans to rest. It was a warm summer night. Fireflies were sparkling all over a nearby field. Silently the two watched them work their magic. Then, as though the occasion called for it, the hired man slipped a tiny flute out of his picked and played "Nell's Gray." The boy sat pop-eyed.

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

Bundy was born on a farm in Steuben County, New York, and the family later moved to Corning, where young George attended grade school and business college.

The measure of a man's success depends almost invariably on the zest he takes in his work. And that explains George M. Bundy.

His first love, the tin flute, gave way to a fife which he played in the local drum corps. But the apple of his eye was a second hand clarinet.

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

To pay for lessons, he delivered groceries and sold newspapers.

A minstrel show came to Corning. Bundy was 17 and when it left, he went along. Bundy also worked on a showboat. Life was not without its moments on the showboat, although at times a bit primitive. 

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

Tear jerking melodramas mostly held the boards, and the audiences took them very very seriously.

As a ticket seller Bundy sometimes would swap show tickets for garden produce. The troupe usually objected to this.

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

By 1906, Bundy had ambitions to become a top flight clarinetist so he located in Indianapolis to study. At Indianapolis he met Alexandre Slemer,who was playing a concert with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Bundy prevailed for Selmer to teach him and ordered a Selmer clarinet, which was delivered nine months later. Shortly thereafter, Selmer was signed as prinicpal clarinetist of the New York Philarmonic Orchestra.

Alexandre Selmer was rated by a contemporary music journal as "one of the greatest clarinet players of all times."

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

When Bundy first moved to New York, he was lonely and Mrs. Selmer often invited him to the Selmer home. He found Mr. Selmer pressing very hard on his pen to make duplicates for his letter press book. Bundy mentioned that he could save much labor by typing. An old blind Remington was rented for $2.50 a month and Bundy began to type replies to the Selmer mail. It was his first assoication with teh Selmer business.

Since te clarinets which Selmer imported were readily sold, he opened a store on East 86th Street, New York, in 1909, with Bundy as genral office man.

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

Bundy, at 23, was put in charge and has headed the Selmer American Interests ever since.

The new firm was going ahead rapidly when it ran into tough sledding between 1914 and 1918.

Saxophnes began becoming a large craze. The purchase of the Sax firm made available all the invaluable Adolphe Sax data in developing instruments.

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim

1944-The Real Reason for George M. Bundy By Doron K. Antrim