The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
Last night I got to go see The Killers at George Mason University's Patriot Center. My friend Caroline asked me to go at the last minute and the concert greatly exceeded my expectations. The Killers are a great band, obviously, but the show was also quite the production. Lasers! Fireworks!
And I was sure I would be the oldest person there, but turned out I wasn't by a long shot. In addition to the 20-somethings, there were grandparents and children. And everyone seemed to be having a blast, which was a nice experience after last week.
Anyway, speaking of old, my whole point in mentioning this is that I caught the drumstick at the end of the show. I should probably not be as excited about this as I am, but there you go. I got home and proudly showed off my prize to my husband and we began discussing the maker of the drum stick -- Zildjian.
Did you know that it's one of the oldest companies in the world? Apparently only about 5,000 companies in the whole world are more than 200 years old. And yes, a good chunk of those are wineries and breweries, as should be the case.
The oldest, until it was bought out just a few years ago, was Kongō Gumi Co., Ltd. (株式会社金剛組 Kabushiki Gaisha Kongō Gumi), a Japanese construction company It operated for more than 1,400 years and had a 10-foot 17th-century scroll that traced the ownership back through 40 generations.
Back to Zildjian:
The first Zildjian cymbals were created in 1618 by Avedis Zildjian, an 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 wordzil – cymbal,dji – maker-seller,ian – a common suffix used in Armenian last names which means 'son of') and began an industry in 1623, the details of whose main product 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 frighten the enemies of the Ottoman Empire to manufacturing its cymbals as musical instruments in the 19th century.
They moved to the United States in the earlier part of the 20th century and they say they're the oldest company operating from the United States.
Isn't that cool?
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Comments:
Jul '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
I saw a documentary once that showed how they tune and test cymbals which was a lot more fascinating than you would think on the face of it. Here's a quick sample from the web.
May '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
I used Zildjians back when I owned a drumset. A good brand.
But my favorite experience with an old "company" was having some drinks at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in London.
Jun '11
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
My niece -- we're the oldest of our respective generations -- introduced me to The Killers via Guitar Hero 3. Nice to hear the band puts on a good show as well.
On the oldest establishments front, folks should check out the Brazen Head if they're lucky enough be in Dublin...est. 1198 AD.
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
Another Armenian contribution to world culture!
Dec '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
That is really cool.
Mar '12
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
Mollie, how cool that you caught the drumstick! Having caught a couple of foul balls at major league baseball games, I can sort of imagine the thrill. Congratulations.
May '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
I had no earthly idea Zildjian was that old. My garage band drummer in high school was a Neil Peart fanatic, and dreamed of owning a full Zildjian cymbal set. The one crash he could afford was his most prized possession.
BTW, I caught the album Rick Neilsen tossed out during "Surrender" the last time Cheap Trick played in Atlanta...
Nov '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
I knew of Zildjian as a brand long before I knew what it was they actually did. One of the cooler guys back in high school, the kind of kid that just bled cool, wore a t shirt in gym class witit the name emblazoned across the chest.
Oct '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
Very cool indeed. I used to work as a security guard in a data center owned by (at the time) Barclays Global Investors. Barclays is also a company that goes back the to the 17th century but I think it started in the late 1600s.
Feb '11
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
We Toads were at a minor league ball game some years back, when the youngest among us were getting cranky, so we left the game before it ended. As we were heading to the car outside the stadium, a ball flew out and landed right in front of us. The kids, sadly, learned the lesson that you should always leave the game early!
It is truly cool, Mollie, that you caught the drumstick. And also all the interesting info on the company. There was an article about old companies in the Economist a couple of years back some might find interesting.
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
You look absolutely gleeful in that photo. Also, I'm impressed that you found an interesting and perfectly legitimate way to brag about your new drumstick.
Dec '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
Soooo very jealous that you got to see the Killers. I've been rather obsessed about their new release "Battle Born" since it showed up in this thread ahead of the election.
That tune now serves as an anthem for me as I prepare for the inevitable crash (a little cymbal humor there) into reality as a nation. Zildjian may not even make it when this crew is finished with them.
Apr '12
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
A friend of mine started his time travel company in 2313. But he does a lot of import/export work to the migration period Germanic tribes. I have no idea how to age his business. It could be the oldest around...or not started yet. Time travel always confuses me.
Aug '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
When I read "the oldest company in the world", well... I wasn't picturing cymbals...
Apr '12
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
You thought they were having a double bill with the Rolling Stones?
Aug '10
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
Arahant
You thought they were having a double bill with the Rolling Stones?
I suppose a "double bill" with "rolling stones" is one way to put it.
Feb '12
Re: The Killers and the Oldest Company in the World
Birkenstock is another such company ... "Tradition seit 1774" as they say on their boxes. :D