In 1917, Holton signed an agreement with the city of Elkhorn, Wisconsin to build a factory.

In the agreement, a provision was made that if Holton paid out $500,000 in wages over seven years to support the community workforce, he would be granted the title to the land and building. In June 1919, to inspire a stronger workforce to move from Chicago to Elkhorn, Holton bought seventeen acres and contracted 27 houses built to offer to his employees. Production of top line professional instruments continued to grow. #HOLTON COLLEGIATE TROMBONE SERIAL NUMBER PROFESSIONAL# In 1929, Holton introduced a complete line of school grade instruments under the Holton Collegiate name. In 1939, Frank Holton sold his company to Fred Kull, a company employee. Throughout World War II as most manufacturers did, the Holton Company turned to making components for the military.

As the war ended, the Holton Company saw steady growth. In 1964, after pressures to offer a complete range of woodwind instruments, the Holton Company sold to G. #HOLTON COLLEGIATE TROMBONE SERIAL NUMBER PROFESSIONAL#.The business office fixtures and office crew will arrive in Elkhorn Saturday, and the factory will open for business Monday morning. Fifteen erecting machinists are at work installing the equipment fast as it arrives, and within a few days the entire plant will be in operation.

The first carload of machinery arrived from Chicago Tuesday evening, draw and is being received at the rate “of three and four carloads daily.” A total of 85 carloads of machinery must be moved. For several years the owners of the business had been planning to move the factory away from Chicago, and labor difficulties, and were induced to choose Elkhorn, though they had many tempting offers made them by other progressive cities. Frank Holton & Company is an old established business, employing more than 200 people, and advanced far beyond the experimental stage. The matter was laid before the citizen’s of the city, who agreed that it was Elkhorn’s great opportunity, and accordingly a modern building was built, to be turned over to the factory, and becomes eventually the property of Frank Holton & Co.

Holton collegiate serial numbers