Zildjian cymbals
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| Private | |
| Industry | Cymbal manufacturer |
| Founded | Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), Ottoman Empire (1623) |
| Founder | Avedis Zildjian |
| Headquarters | Norwell, Massachusetts, United States |
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Key people
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Avedis Zildjian, Founder Armand Zildjian Craigie Zildjian, Current CEO Debbie Zildjian |
| Products | Cymbals, Drum sticks |
| Owners | Craigie Zildjian, Current CEO Debbie Zildjian |
| Website | www |
The Avedis Zildjian Company, commonly known as Zildjian /ˈzɪldʒiən/, is a cymbal manufacturer founded in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) by an Armenian alchemist called Avedis Zildjian in the 17th century, during the Ottoman period. It is now based in Norwell, Massachusetts. Zildjian is nearly 400 years old. Zildjian also sells drum-related accessories, such as drum sticks and cymbal carriers. It is the largest cymbal manufacturer in the world.
On December 20, 2010, it was announced that Avedis Zildjian Company had merged with Vic Firth, Inc. According to the announcement, both companies will continue to run autonomously.
The first Zildjian cymbals were created in 1618 by Avedis Zildjian, an Armenian alchemist who was looking for a way to turn base metal into gold; he created an alloy combining tin, copper, and silver into a sheet of metal that could make musical sounds without shattering. Avedis was given the name of Zildjian (Zilciyân) by the Sultan Osman II (from the Turkish terms zil "bell" + -ci "-er, maker, seller" + -ian a common suffix used in Armenian last names) and began an industry in 1623, the details of whose main product have remained secret for generations. It became family tradition that only the company's heirs would know the manufacturing process.
The Zildjian Company moved from manufacturing noisemakers that frightened the enemies of the Ottoman Empire to manufacturing its cymbals as musical instruments in the 19th century.
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Wikipedia