Fender
A Brief History
The company began as Fender's Radio Service in late 1938
By the early 1940s, he had partnered with another local electronics enthusiast named Clayton Orr "Doc" Kauffman and together they formed a company named K & F Manufacturing Corp. but in early 1946 they went their separate ways.
At that point Leo renamed the company the Fender Electric Instrument Company. The service shop remained open until 1951, although Leo Fender did not personally supervise it after 1947.
In early 1965, Leo Fender sold his companies to the Columbia Broadcasting System, or CBS.
After selling the Fender company, Leo Fender founded Music Man in 1975, and later founded the
G & L Musical Intruments company, which manufactures electric guitars and basses based on his later designs.
In 1985, in a campaign initiated by then CBS Musical Instruments division president William Schultz (1926-2006), the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company employees purchased the company from CBS and renamed it the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
For modern Fender picks, post-CBS, click here.
The company began as Fender's Radio Service in late 1938
By the early 1940s, he had partnered with another local electronics enthusiast named Clayton Orr "Doc" Kauffman and together they formed a company named K & F Manufacturing Corp. but in early 1946 they went their separate ways.
At that point Leo renamed the company the Fender Electric Instrument Company. The service shop remained open until 1951, although Leo Fender did not personally supervise it after 1947.
In early 1965, Leo Fender sold his companies to the Columbia Broadcasting System, or CBS.
After selling the Fender company, Leo Fender founded Music Man in 1975, and later founded the
G & L Musical Intruments company, which manufactures electric guitars and basses based on his later designs.
In 1985, in a campaign initiated by then CBS Musical Instruments division president William Schultz (1926-2006), the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company employees purchased the company from CBS and renamed it the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
For modern Fender picks, post-CBS, click here.