For over a century, workers in Eastlake, Ohio, built some of America’s finest brass instruments. The factory produced C.G. Conn and Bach Stradivarius models that musicians played in orchestras and marching bands across the country.
On January 7, 2026, Conn-Selmer announced the plant would close by June 30, 2026. About 150 union workers will lose their jobs. These skilled craftspeople spent 20 to 30 years mastering their trade. They shaped brass and tuned valves with precision. The instruments they built cost between $800 for student models and $8,000 for professional ones.
The closure hits Eastlake hard. This town of 17,423 people sits 20 miles northeast of Cleveland in Lake County. The median household income here is $62,510, which falls below Ohio’s range of $69,680 to $80,520. The factory served as a key employer in an area already hurt by manufacturing losses.
Since NAFTA was implemented in 1994, Ohio has lost 276,474 manufacturing jobs—28.5 percent of its industrial base. UAW Local 2359 represents the affected workers. The union vowed to fight for severance packages, retraining programs, or even a worker buyout. Union leaders said the people who built the brand deserve to keep their Ohio jobs.
Billionaire Owner Breaks His Promise
Hedge fund manager John Paulson bought Steinway Musical Instruments for $512 million in August 2013. That deal gave him control of Conn-Selmer and its famous brass brands. During the purchase negotiations, Paulson promised that he would not close, relocate, or change any of his manufacturing operations. That pledge lasted less than 13 years. The factory’s history traces back to C.G. Conn’s original plant in Elkhart, Indiana. By 1905, that facility had become the world’s largest instrument maker.
Paulson’s net worth reaches several billion dollars. He hosted a fundraiser for Donald Trump in Palm Beach in April 2024. That single event raised $50.5 million for Trump’s campaign. Trump has pledged to revive American manufacturing and prevent companies from relocating jobs overseas. The timing raised eyebrows. Paulson’s ownership of Steinway shows a pattern of consolidation and cost-cutting. Piano production at Steinway facilities declined as operations moved to lower-cost locations.
Production Moves to China
Conn-Selmer will shift production of tubas, sousaphones, and student French horns to China. Professional French horn players will relocate to Elkhart, Indiana. This marks the end of American production of these instruments. Chinese manufacturers undercut U.S. makers by 40 to 60 percent on student and intermediate models. Chinese factory workers earn $3 to $6 per hour. Ohio workers at the plant made $25 to $32 per hour plus benefits. Paulson’s fund focused on investor returns over American jobs.
Quality concerns worry professional musicians. Many complain that Chinese-made instruments have stuck valves, poor sound quality, uneven construction, and inferior materials. The Bach Stradivarius brand represents the gold standard in brass instruments. Top orchestras prefer these models. Moving production overseas risks a reputation built over 152 years.
Some experts predict quality problems could force Conn-Selmer to bring production back within a few years. Professional instruments require precise metalwork and high-grade materials, such as nickel-silver. These standards prove difficult to maintain with low-wage labor. The closure tests whether global production can match elite American craftsmanship or if Eastlake’s traditions were truly irreplaceable.
Sources:
UAW, Official statement on Conn-Selmer closure, January 6, 2026
Conn-Selmer, Official company announcement on Eastlake plant closure, January 7, 2026
New York Times, Paulson acquisition of Steinway Musical Instruments, August 14, 2013
New York Times, Trump Palm Beach fundraiser raises $50.5 million, April 6, 2024
News5 Cleveland, Union responds to Eastlake plant closure, January 7, 2026
Trump Campaign, Official fundraiser announcement and campaign statements, April 6, 2024