Sabian Timeline
1968: Meductic, New Brunswick, Canada becomes home of a new Zildjian factory - AZCO1 (A. Zildjian COmpany). This new factory costs $180,000, and measures 6,000 square feet. Capital budget is $200,000.3 They produce the AZCO series there, beginning March 1,1 and projects the first cymbals will ship on May 15.2 The company starts with 7 workers.3 Zildjian initially expects as many as 20 employees to be on staff by Spring, but this doesn't come to fruition. Cymbal blanks are shipped to Meductic from the company's factory in the U.S.A. An expansion of the AZCO facility is announced, where blanks will start being produced in late 1968 or early 1969.3 (An article from 1971 mentions an expansion worth $80,000 will take place later that year. It is unknown whether this is another expansion, or that the aforementioned one didn't take place. This article also mentions that blanks are still being imported from the U.S.A.)5
This N.B. location is chosen for a few of reasons: Robert Zildjian is familiar with the area from many hunting and fishing trips over a 20 year time period. One-third of the capital cost is being underwritten by the Canadian federal government under the designated area program. Tariffs go down from 17.5% to 15% on materials imported to Canada from the U.S.A., positively impacting the profit margin. Also, moving Canadian-produced goods among Commonwealth countries have lower tariffs than goods made in the U.S.A. 2
1972: Azco Ltd. employs between 12-15 people. It puts about $12,000 to $15,000 a month into the local economy.4
1973 AZCO ad (The Telegraph-Journal)
1975: K. Zildjian series starts production in Meductic.
1977: Avedis Zildjian appoints oldest son, Armand, as the new President of the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company.
1979: Avedis Zildjian dies. Also this year, the Istanbul factory closed, Gabe Zilcan moves to Canada to work at AZCO. Zilcan oversees production and quality control for Sabian later on.6
1981: On December 31, Robert Zildjian, Armand's younger brother, takes over the K. Zildjian facility in Meductic. He rebrands it - Sabian - from letters of his children's names: SAlly, Wilson (BIll), and ANdy.
1982: 1st availability (except the U.S.A.) The first two lines are AA and HH.
1983: 1st U.S.A. industry appearance at Summer NAMM that year.
1984: Introduced the B8 series.
1985: Acquired the Charles Alden Music Company, Inc of Walpole, Massachusetts, for the purpose of distribution.
1986: Sabian entered into a partnership with Hohner Inc., for the purpose of distributing their products. Sonor's products were to be distributed as well. The new group was known as H.S.S. - Hohner Sonor Sabian. In addition, products by Vic Firth, Calato, Pro-Mark, and Remo were to be included in the distribution agreement.
1988: H.S.S. completed expansion of its warehouse facility in Ashland, Virginia, U.S.A..
1989: Andy Zildjian promoted to the position of Manager of Sales, Promotion, and Artist Relations at the company's USA (East Coast) office/depot in Hanover, Massachusets, U.S.A.. New office facility opens next to the factory.
2013 Robert "Bob" / "R.Z." Zildjian passes away on March 28, at the age of 89, at his home in Brunswick, Maine.
2015 Sabian begins direct distribution to the United States.11
Oct. '82 ad "NOT AVAILABLE IN U.S.A"
Jan. '83 ad "NOW AVAILABLE IN U.S.A"
1983 magazine ad
1983 ad
Sources:
1 Frank Withers, "Cymbal Plant Nearly Ready", The Daily Gleaner, February 16, 1968, pg. 1
2 "Beat of the Beatles sounds sweet success: U.S. cymbal maker opening plant in N.B.", The Globe and Mail, April 5, 1968, pg. 19
3 "Meductic Cymbal Firm Announces Expansion", The Daily Gleaner, December 12, 1968, pg. 3
4 "Cymbal Manufacturer Bolsters Meductic Economy", The Telegraph-Journal and The Evening Times-Globe", February 20, 1972, pg. 33
5 "N.B. Cymbal Factory Important Musicians Throughout World", The Moncton Transcript, January 11, 1971, pg. 19
6 Mark Tunney, "Will Lionel Ritchie Play Meductic? - Top Musicians Line Up To Visit N.B. Cymbal Plant", The Telegraph-Journal, May 17, 1986, pg.34
11 The Daily Gleaner Staff, "Sabian LTD. to sell its cymbals directly to the U.S.", The Daily Gleaner, March 12, 2015, pg. D4
