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Our History |
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Cliff's latest practice horn. Click on this! |
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Some of that mechanical ability definitely rubbed off on Cliff, because after serving in WWII, fixing airplane machineguns and playing in the Army Air Force band, Cliff attended the Conn Repair School and then established his own repair shop in 1946, at age 23. He built an all new concrete block building in 1957, moved to much larger facilities in 1967 and has added 5 more additions since. |
OuR PurposETo provide for the modern band instrument Repairman, the most economical, high quality, up to date and easy to use tools available today. Ferree's tool designs have always been based on " Simplicity, Accuracy and Efficiency" while focused on "Quality, Economy and Service". |
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1979 was the year Cliff gave his first foreign repair clinic in W. Germany sponsored by our European distributor. In 1980 he gave a similar clinic in Norway. Thereafter, these brass and woodwind clinics were presented in Germany for several years by Cliff’s eldest son, Gary. No longer with us, Gary served as our Repair Consultant at: Repairtips@aol.com. In 2009 Gary’s son Curtis took over the repair consulting along with shop foreman shop and in charge of Research and Development. Cliff attributes the growth of the company to the fact that he has been active in the repair field and realizes the needs of other Repairmen. He is still constantly on the lookout for methods to improve tools and supplies used by musical instrument and band Repairmen throughout the world. This search has resulted in the development of many new tools. Using these tools can help complete difficult and complicated jobs more simply, in much less time and more accurately. There have been large investments to update company machinery in an effort to keep production costs as low as possible. Barbara Ferree, who has worked in the office since the beginning, is Secretary-Treasurer. In addition to accounting, she produced the company’s first catalogs, advertising and lay-outs. The name Ferree’s has always stood for efficient manufacturing and pride in our products. The quality and service represented by our logo are always the best we can give. |
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Cliff Ferree, founder and president of Ferree’s Tools, Inc., has an excellent background in the repair field. He played in several Army Air Force bands during WWII. After graduation from the Conn repair school in 1946, he established his own repair shop. This grew into a large retail business (which was later sold due to expansion of the tool business). In 1956 Cliff bought out the repair tool departments of both Conn and Leblanc. Using these tools as a nucleus, and after extensive redesign, the first complete catalog was published in 1957. In September 1992, Ferree’s acquired the Erick Brand Corporation, which had been selling band instrument repair tools and supplies since 1935. From 1962 thru 1967, Cliff conducted a series of 2 week repair courses. These courses were very successful. The tool business moved to larger quarters in 1965. In 1967 two large additions were completed. In 1970 he designed several unique sax pad assembly machines. After making special sets of precision dies, he began manufacturing saxophone pads. These pads eventually supplied several major manufacturers in addition to repair shops. Due to a large increase in business that these superior pads brought, in 1976 a second building was erected. |
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Clifford Maurice Ferree, founder of Ferree’s Tools, Inc., passed away on Wednesday Nov. 2. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, and four sons from a previous marriage. He has 17 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Cliff was born June 26, 1923 . His parents were Samuel J. and Agnes Ferree of Battle Creek. He met his first wife, Barbara Iden, in high school. He graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in June, 1942 and he and Barbara were married in September of 1942. After working at the Clark Equipment Co. for several months, he enlisted in the Army in December 1942 and was stationed in Savannah, GA and Denver, CO. He was later transferred to the 764th Army Air Corps Band in Stuttgart, AR. After his discharge in late 1945 at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio, Cliff was a door-to-door salesman for about six months while waiting to go to the Conn Band Instrument Repair School on the G.I. Bill of Rights. After Cliff graduated from the Conn repair school, in December 1946 he opened a one room band instrument sales and repair shop, Ferree’s Music Shop, on the second floor at 25 NE Capital Avenue in Battle Creek. New instruments were hard to come by after the war and Cliff started getting so many repair customers that he outgrew the room in less than a year. He moved to Battle Creek’s main street, Michigan Avenue, to a 2-room basement location with a sidewalk entrance. He outgrew that within a year, as new Instruments became available, and moved to a section of a building at 56 State Street. They finally took over 5 sections of the building. Barbara worked with him as bookkeeper and in sales from day one. Cliff became interested in tools for repairing and started working on some improvements in his garage. After about five years, he built a building at 110 Calhoun Street and set up part of the building for making tools. In 1956 the company bought the band instrument repair tool departments from the C.G. Conn Co. and the G. Leblanc Co. The company name was changed to Ferree’s Band Instrument Tools and Supplies. That same year he took Jack Masteller, a former professional musician and band director, as a partner. Jack took over the retail part of the business so that Cliff could concentrate on the tools. In 1962 Cliff started a series of band instrument repair training clinics which ran every year until 1967.In 1965 the company moved to a much larger building at 1477 E.. Michigan Ave . and added a second building two years later. In 1972 Cliff sold his interest in the retail business to Jack Masteller and he kept the repair tool business. In 1982 Cliff became a charter member of the organization which evolved into NAPBIRT. In 1982 he was awarded the International Ambassador Award from NAPBIRT. In 1983, Gary received the same award. In 1984 and 1986, Ferree’s offered another series of repair classes, each open to about 30 students. Gary taught four 3 day classes in 1984 and in 1986 he taught four 2 day classes. In 1984 the company name was shortened to Ferree’s Tools, Inc.. Cliff also enjoyed flying his Piper Tri-Pacer and later, boating in a trawler. At one time they boated from Saugatuck, Mi. down the Mississippi across the Gulf down to St. Petersburg FL. Later, they boated from Saugatuck around Michigan, through the Erie Canal, down the East Coast to Port St. Lucie, Florida. Cliff enjoyed playing trombone in several community bands in Battle Creek and Marshal, Michigan and Florida. He was a member of the Battle Creek Commandery No. 33, a life member of the Saladin Shrine and a 65 year member of the Gen. Geo. Custer American Legion Post #54." Cliff and Barbara were divorced in 1990. They had five boys: the oldest Gary, passed away in 2009. Three of the boys still live in Battle Creek, Jim, Pete and Tom and Tom’s partner, Tami Brewer. Bob, wife Jeri and their family live in Castle Rock, CO. The five boys all worked in the business at various times, later moving on to other interests. Gary came back into the business in 2000 and was active until his death in 2009. He primarily worked with customers who came into the shop or called on the phone, as well as working on new tools. Gary’s son, Curtis, has been with the company over 22 years. He is assistant shop foreman and is now the primary customer contact. Ferree’s Tools, Inc. and their experienced employees will continue furnishing quality repair tools and supplies to their customers in the future. |
Remembrance Of Our FounderCliff Ferree |
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Ferree's Tools, Inc. is NOT responsible for typographical errors in pricing or |