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(click
image for Bronstein's web site)
 "Providing
musical service for over 55 years."
Bronstein Music was founded by Milton & Celia Bronstein
on February 9, 1946. Milton Bronstein was a very fine trumpet
player born and raised in Petaluma, California. He would travel
to San Francisco by ferry boat, (the Golden Gate Bridge hadn't
been built) to take trumpet lessons on the weekends. He had
landed the dream job of playing on a cruise ship when World
War II broke out.
He joined the Army Band and was assigned to General Patton's
Army Unit in North Africa Campaign, Anzio, and Monte Casino.
Mr. Bronstein led the 6th Army Band, saving his cigarette
and liquor allotment for the future.
After the war, Milton and Celia were married and Milton finished
his teaching credential at Mills College and tried teaching
music for one year in Oroville, CA. He then decided to go
into the retail music business, using the money he had saved
during the War.
At the time, the production of musical instruments was practically
nonexistent. The main product to sell was records and record
players. The large publishers, Warner Bros., RCA, and Columbia
controlled distribution. Columbia offered the Bronstein's
the rights to South San Francisco sales, thus the location
of their new store was established.
Their first customer was a small boy named Buddy Powers. Buddy
walked into the store was a can of change, dumped it on the
counter, and proclaimed his intention to buy a trumpet. Mr.
Bronstein found Buddy a trumpet and gave him his first lesson.
Buddy went on to be a renowned commercial musician working
extensively with Woody Herman.
Over the years Bronstein Music changed with the ever evolving
music industry, selling sheet music, records, record players,
stereos, televisions, transistor radios, organs, pianos, band
instruments, hair dryers, refrigerators..........................
In 1968 Don Edwards and Rich Welker, two high school students,
were hired as part-time help. The Bronsteins maintained a
policy of hiring high-school and college students to man the
store. They would allow the student/help to take on as much
responsibility as they could handle, and to a large degree,
the part-time help did everything from sales, to delivery,
cleaning, repair, and collections.
In 1981, the Bronsteins retired, selling the store to Rich
and Don. At the time the store no longer sold TV's or stereos.
Organs had been dropped, but we still sold acoustic pianos
as well as band instruments, combo gear, and sheet music.
A large portion of the business was rental of combo gear.
Bronstein Music has continued to change as the music business
has evolved. School Band and Orchestra support has become
a vital part of our business and with continued support of
combo bands and private music education.
Over the years, thousands of customers have made Bronstein
Music their supplier of musical instruments and support. Several
generations have grown up with Bronstein Music. Such greats
as Janis Joplin, John Fogerty, The Pointer Sisters, Jethro
Tull, Wynton Marsalis and many more have come to us for their
needs.
Bronstein Music has become truly global. Our remarkable inventory
of professional level instruments has made us quietly famous
throughout the world as a source of exceptional product at
an affordable price with expert advice. We have customers
in: Japan, Singapore, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Germany,
Ireland, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa, Poland, Israel,
New Zealand, Australia, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark,
Russia, and many states throughout America. |
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