Vincent Bach

Vincent Shrotenbach was born in Vienna in 1890 and received violin training before switching to trumpet after hearing its majestic tone. Vincent had a great aptitude for science and graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering, but he abandoned a lucrative career to follow his first love and an uncertain future as a musician. As he performed around Europe under the stage name Vincent Bach, he achieved musical success.

Vincent's journey to New York City was necessitated by World War I, and he arrived with only $5.00 in his pocket. Vincent received an audition and a position with the Boston Symphony as a result of a letter to renowned conductor Karl Muck. He became the first trumpet at the Metropolitan Opera House the following season. Vincent's mouthpiece was destroyed by a repairman while on tour in Pittsburgh. Vincent had a hard time locating a suitable substitute. During his furloughs, he worked in the Selmer Music store's basement, repairing ancient mouthpieces.

Vincent started creating mouthpieces in 1918 with a $300 investment in a foot-operated lathe. The company flourished quickly, and the first Bach trumpets were created in 1924. The moniker Bach Stradivarius came up as a result of musicians referring to a Bach trumpet as a genuine 'Stradivarius.' Around 1928, Bach added trombones to his line.

Vincent sold his company at the age of 71. Vincent elected to sell to the Selmer Company despite receiving twelve other offers, some of which were greater. The tooling and machinery producing Bach instruments was relocated from Mount Vernon to Elkhart, Indiana, in 1964. These instruments are still made to Vincent's original designs and plans and uphold the highest levels of craftsmanship.