Area served Worldwide Founded 1880 | Founder John Calhoun Deagan | |
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Formerly called J.C. Deagan Musical Bells, Inc. Industry Percussion instrument design and manufacture Fate Products under the Deagan trademark owned and marketed by Yamaha Successor Slingerland Drum Company Headquarters 1770 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, Illinois, United States | ||
J.C. Deagan, Inc. was a developer and manufacturer of percussion instruments from the late 19th to the mid-twentieth century. The company was founded in 1880 by John Calhoun Deagan (1853-1934) and initially manufactured glockenspiels (orchestra bells). It was noted for its development of the xylophone, vibraharp (vibraphone), organ chimes, aluminum chimes, aluminum harp, Swiss handbells, the marimba, and orchestra bells. Church bells were revolutionized by Deagan through his design of tubular bells, and the NBC chimes were his creation. Its former headquarters, the tower of which still bears the company name, is a landmark in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
In 1978 the Deagan company was sold to Slingerland Drum Company, which in turn sold it to Sanlar Corporation in 1984. Subsequently the Deagan trademark and patents were purchased by the Yamaha corporation.