 | ||
Fibes Drum Company was founded in 1966 by Bob Grauso, a drummer, and John Morena, a drummer and composite materials professional. Fibes was a percussion instrument manufacturer notable for its pioneering use of fiberglass composites and transparent acrylic materials in the construction of drum shells. Fibes offered chrome plating on their fiberglass shells as well as a variety of other surface finishes. Chrome plated Fibes snare drums have an appearance that closely matches that of conventional chrome plated metal snare drums made by other manufacturers. Fibes drums, and particularly Fibes snare drums were used by Buddy Rich, who continued to use the Fibes snare even while an endorser of competing products.
The Fibes company was eventually sold to the C.F. Martin Organisation, makers of Martin Guitars. Martin sold the fixtures, machinery, inventory, and equipment to Jim Corder, who renamed the business Corder Drums. The Fibes trademark was sold to another party, who had a business agreement with Martin to distribute Fibes drum sticks. Corder then sold the company in 1990 to Sammy Darwin, a radio programming consultant, who operated the company under the name Darwin until early 1994.
Tommy Robertson learned of the status of Darwin Drums, and began negotiations to purchase the factory from Darwin. After eight months, an agreement was made. In December 1994 the factory was purchased and moved into a newly designed facility in Austin, Texas. The Fibes trademark was also purchased in December, thus reuniting the original name and product. Fibes has since stopped production of drums.