Nakanishi Musical Works Martin Copy
They started out in the early 1900's as a maker of Japanese cabinets and after WWII they stared making cabinets for thing like radios and amps, (and sewing machines). In 1951 they were taken over by Singer Sewing Machine Co. but in the 60’s Singer moved the cabinet making to the Philippines so they had to find new products. Guitars were big at the time and they had some in house expertise, but because they were late to the market they worked on making quality rather than budget instruments. They did OEM work for lots of people including some of the other Japanese OEM firms who could do the budget work but subcontracted the top quality manufacture, it wasn’t until 1979 that they started they own house brand, Westone. With OEM Guitar making moving to South Korea and the decline in domestic sewing machines Singer could no longer have a Guitar maker on its books so after failing to buy itself out Matsumoko was closed down.
While there were in business they produced instruments branded Apollo, Aria, Arita, Barclay, Burny, Capri, Columbus, Conrad Country, Cutler, Dia, Domino, Electra, Epiphone, Granada, Hilo, Howard, Lindberg, Lyle, Luxor (not the Horenstein Brand), Maxitone, Mayfair, Memphis, Montclair, Pan, Raven, Stewart, Tempo, Univox ,Vantage, Ventura, Vision, Volhox, Westbury, Westminster and possibly made Bruno, Crestwood, Conqueror, Eros, Mako, Memphis, Orlando and Toledo. This may not be all the brands they made, I haven't seen all of these names on Ukuleles and they may not have been the only firm producing them?
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