Now Entering their Fifth Decade, This Family Business is Still Setting Standards
“It all started with a trap case,” recalls Joe Calzone, as he reflects on the case making company he founded in 1975. The legendary company, now known as Calzone and Anvil Case, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Recognized as the largest fabricated case manufacturer in the world, the name is synonymous with protective cases across a broad spectrum of industries other than rock-n-roll.
Early Days
As a touring musician in the early ‘70’s, Calzone built his first cases for his own drum kit, with the help of his father, Joe Jr., who owned an HVAC metal working shop, and his uncle Frank, a carpenter.
“What happened was, our keyboard player took delivery of his first Anvil case for his Mini-Moog and ARP Odyssey. Man, as young musicians, when we got that case, we felt like we were on our way.” Owning an Anvil case meant, “You had arrived!” Upon seeing the case, Calzone decided he wanted to build cases for his own instruments. The process ignited a desire to start a business building cases for musicians.
Little did he know at the time that 20 years later, he would acquire the Anvil Company, founded by the Vallas family in 1952. This and six other acquisitions along the way, such as Excalibur and Ascot, would comprise the nucleus making Calzone the respected brand it is today.
“For the first five years or so, I didn’t draw a paycheck,” he says with a chuckle, so he continued playing with his band, parlaying one passion into another to build his second dream.
Initial success came about when friends of Joe’s formed the Kramer Guitar company. Calzone became the exclusive case supplier for all of Kramer’s guitars and bass guitars. A succession of landmark accounts began with Carmine Appice, Joe’s longtime friend and drum teacher, who was playing with Rod Stewart at the time. Soon, other bands, such as Wishbone Ash, Twisted Sister and Springsteen’s Born in USA tour brought wider recognition to the Calzone name.
Growth and Innovation
An early motto, “Innovators, not Imitators,” emphasized the idea that “we wanted to come up with our own designs and construction methods.” Their use of aluminum window frame double angle extrusion provided quicker assembly of case formation by allowing the wood to simply slide into position. Split rivets enhanced a sleeker overall look, which became the first version of the company’s hallmark Double Angle Case.
Quickly outgrowing their small warehouse in Norwalk CT, the company relocated to Bridgeport, CT in 1983. At the time, Bridgeport was the epicenter of a veritable Who’s Who of suppliers and manufacturers, such as J.H. Sessions, who developed all their trunk hardware. USM, the originator of the pop rivet, Simmons Fastener’s butterfly latches, Stocker Hinge, attaché latch maker Excelsior Hardware and Bassick Casters were practically within walking distance of Calzone’s 30,000-square-foot facility. Milford Rivet Company was also close enough to collaborate with on innovative riveting machine options to help the operators more easily set the famous split rivets.
“All these manufacturers were more than willing to work with us on creating innovative techniques and technology,” says Calzone.
Setting the Standard
That initiative by Calzone has been the bedrock of their ongoing motto, “To build the highest quality custom case in the world, at a fair price with on-time delivery.”
To accomplish this, Joe notes the company is “somewhat reactive, while very proactive and market driven,” always seeking new materials and components to improve their products.
One such product is the Strongbox Case, a popular “truck pack” style case. Made of ¾-inch Russian Birch, it features Calzone’s Protex embossed black coating, a finish touted as having the strength of a truck bed liner to resist impact damage. The three-part hinge, developed in part by Calzone, is powder-coated black, along with the handles, stacking caster wells, and all fasteners, creating an overall cool, stealth-like appearance. It folds fully back against the rear of the case and will not spring, break or pull away from the case, even under the toughest handling. The pocket doors recess into the case, eliminating the need to remove and store the doors elsewhere.
All tongue and groove valances are precision machined to a tolerance within four thousandths of an inch, which eliminates that age-old hassle of matching lids to cases.
These user-friendly products save time and money, ultimately translating into better efficiencies for a touring production. Other business sectors using the company’s products include the aerospace, medical, sporting, and broadcast industries. The company’s products have even made it to the White House Communications Office, which uses it to protect their sensitive gear.
On the Horizon
Looking ahead, it’s evident that Calzone execs have been thinking outside the box. “We have an entirely new product line designed with the same iconic look of Anvil Cases,” says marketing director Rene Elizondo, “called Industrial Elegance.” The line of road worthy furniture, such as end tables, entertainment systems, desk, and conference tables, “Give home offices that rock -n-roll feel synonymous with the Anvil name,” he adds.
Other new products Calzone plan to introduce, include luggage and mobile device cases or the consumer market under the banner, “Bring the Concert Home With You.”
Still a family business, the company has grown to be a world concern. Joe’s brother, Vin, company VP, came onboard in 1976, while nephew Tim worked his way through the ranks to become the current production manager. Of the 91 employees, many have been with the company 20-plus years, some over 30.
“We do everything we can to support our most valuable asset, our employees, by continually expanding our customer base without compromising quality and delivery, which translates into controlled growth and job security,” Joe concludes.
Tight as a drum, with room to breathe, you might say.
Calzone/Anvil Case Company
When Founded:
1975 by Joe Calzone
Other Brands:
Calzone’s 40+ year history goes back even further through the companies it acquired. Anvil Cases, acquired in 1996, traces its roots back to the 1950s.
Latest Twist:
The company’s new Industrial Elegance line of products, designed with an Anvil Case vibe, includes furniture, desks and conference tables.
For more info, go to www.calzonecase.com and visit booth #2345 at LDI.
