Tiny startup company targets professional players
By Colleen Mastony, Tribune reporter
March 21, 2010
He had poured his life savings and the better part of 10 years into the development of the small, nickel-plated harmonica. Years of research, months of false starts, dozens of failed prototypes, countless nights of sleeping on the floor at the office.
"Everything comes together at this moment," said Brad Harrison, a wiry 40-year-old with salt-and-pepper-hair, standing at the end of his makeshift assembly line in Rockford. He tightened a few screws, snapped on the cover plate and then took a moment to admire the harmonica, with its handsome dark-wood comb and aerodynamic design.
He whispered goodbye to the instrument, and gave it a gentle kiss.
With that, Harrison had put the finishing touch on the 33rd instrument manufactured by Rockford-based Harrison Harmonicas, a fledgling company which last month became the only harmonica production facility in the United States.
"Everyone is talking about these harmonicas," said Howard Levy, an Evanston resident widely acknowledged as one of the world's most accomplished harmonica players.
So far, Harrison's B-Radicals have been rolling off the six-man assembly line at a frustratingly slow pace; sometimes just one or two harmonicas are produced in a day. But the first shipments are significant, not only because they are American-made, but also because Harrison's design features replaceable reeds, a detail that, in the harmonica world, marks a profound change.
Marketing his instrument as the Steinway of harmonicas and targeting professional players who have long complained about the inconsistent quality of standard, mass-produced instruments, Harrison hopes to ship 5,000 harmonicas this year and, as production ramps up, generate jobs in Illinois. But his task has been far from easy.
Harmonica production is an exacting business, requiring highly precise machinery. Even the slightest variation can have a catastrophic effect on sound. All of which has resulted in a flurry of false notes in a corner of a repurposed warehouse where workers frequently burst into blues riffs to test the latest instrument coming off the production line and where parts of rejected harmonicas pile high.
On a recent day, the reed-machine had once again gone haywire, bringing production to a standstill. Harrison took a deep breath. "It used to drive me nuts," he said. "Now when things are good I just say, ‘That's what I expected.' And when things go bad I say, ‘We'll figure it out.' "
What Harrison is trying to figure out is a problem that dates back to the origins of the instrument. Invented in the 1800s and first mass-produced in Germany, the harmonica was designed to play simple, major-key folk tunes. By the turn of the 20th century, it had become a popular everyman's instrument, in large part because it was easy to master, portable and inexpensive, then selling for as little as 25 cents.
But in the American South, players began experimenting with the sound, pioneering new techniques that expanded the instrument's range and developing the intense, soulful wailing that is now a hallmark. The harmonica became a driving force in blues music and, in clubs on the South Side of Chicago, a central component of what became known as the "Chicago Sound."
By the 1990s, professional harmonica players were tackling more technically difficult material. And increasingly, they turned to custom craftsmen, who took the bodies of mass-produced harmonicas, corrected the flaws and fine-tuned the sound, enabling players to achieve unprecedented levels of musical achievement.
The fact that mass-produced harmonicas were designed to be inexpensive, disposable instruments had always irritated Harrison. A waiter working in Chicago, he had started playing harmonica in 1995 and later taught himself how to customize the instrument. After hitting on several design innovations, he established himself as a respected customizer, selling his instruments to Bruce Willis — he still has Willis' canceled check — and to Bono, he says, among others. A Japanese company offered to buy his design for about $300,000, he says. But Harrison balked at the deal and ultimately decided to start his own factory.
In 2007, he began spending his free time approaching machine shops, metallurgy experts and manufacturing plants. After a year, he ended up at EIGERlab, a business incubator in Rockford. Daniel J. Cataldi, director of EIGERlab, liked that Harrison's idea involved manufacturing, an industry that the incubator was trying to resuscitate in Rockford.
But Cataldi was also intrigued by the iconic nature of the harmonica. "It's a product that makes people smile," he said. Cataldi gave the project his backing, offering office space, equipment and business expertise.
It took eight months to develop machinery and two years to produce a decent harmonica. Harrison blew through $150,000 of his own savings, maxed out five credit cards and spent most nights sleeping at the office.
"I would see him in the morning and he would be putting away his sleeping bag," recalled Mark Tingley, an EIGERlab engineer.
This winter, the B-radicals finally began to sing. Selling the harmonicas for $180 each, compared with $40 to $80 for a mass-produced model and $200 to $300 for a customized one, Harrison delivered his first shipment in February.
Among harmonica enthusiasts, those instruments are considered "a really big deal," according to Levy, the virtuoso who lives in Evanston. Though custom craftsmen have long adjusted the bodies and parts of mass-produced instruments, "no one has ever made a harmonica where they've designed these improvements into the manufacturing process," Levy said. Harrison's primary innovation, the replaceable reeds, is expected to extend the life of the instrument.
Musicians who have played the first B-Radicals seem to be giving them good-to-glowing reviews. One of several musicians contacted by the Tribune, Jason Ricci, 36, a blues player from Nashville, gushed that the instrument "responds faster and easier than any harmonica I've ever played." Sandy Weltman, 53, a player from St. Louis, said he too has been impressed, but is waiting to see how the instrument performs at a gig, which he called "the real test."
Back in Rockford, Harrison is still working out the kinks in his manufacturing process. On a recent afternoon, the assembly line shut down while the company's chief operating officer rushed to the hardware store to buy a new part for a compressor.
After the machines were running again, Harrison sat down in the tuning room to test the two instruments scheduled to be shipped that day.
He put a harmonica to his lips and played a quick, jazzy tune. Piles of rejected reeds were scattered on the tables around him. He swayed and tapped his foot.
When he finished, he smiled with satisfaction and said: "We hit every note."
cmastony@tribune.com
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
Find article here.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Local Inventor Funnels Ideas into Reality
"No more mess, no more spills," that's the promise a local man is making with his invention, created right here in our own back yard.
The Jugbuddy is a funnel that stands on its own three legs, giving do-it-your-selfers an extra hand; avoiding the frustrations normal funnels may cause.
It's the brain child of local inventor Ed Foster, and was made possible with help from the EigerLab. Foster was able to make a 3D model of his project at the lab and then prototype it, making his dream a reality.
The Jugbuddy retails for just under ten dollars, you can find it in 37 local hardware stores, or head to jugbuddy.com to get one of your own.
Find article here.
The Jugbuddy is a funnel that stands on its own three legs, giving do-it-your-selfers an extra hand; avoiding the frustrations normal funnels may cause.
It's the brain child of local inventor Ed Foster, and was made possible with help from the EigerLab. Foster was able to make a 3D model of his project at the lab and then prototype it, making his dream a reality.
The Jugbuddy retails for just under ten dollars, you can find it in 37 local hardware stores, or head to jugbuddy.com to get one of your own.
Find article here.
EIGERlab Strengthened As It Becomes Part of Rockford Area Economic Development Council;
Can Help More Businesses with Advanced Technology Support;
Rock Valley College to Manage Programs at EIGERlab
For Immediate Release
December 21, 2009, Rockford, Illinois -
EIGERlab, the entrepreneurship center for advanced technology located at 605 Fulton Avenue, will become part of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC). This can help even more Rockford-area companies become successful entrepreneurs and grow their business.
The action was announced at a news conference held today at EIGERlab by representatives of EIGERlab, RAEDC and Rock Valley College (RVC). The RAEDC intends to assume the assets from the parent company of EIGERlab, Rockford Area Ventures (RAV), and to provide strategic direction and marketing for the entrepreneurship center. RAEDC intends to contract program management to RVC.
It was also announced that RAEDC and RAV have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The two groups are conducting due diligence to determine if the asset transfer can take place. The process is expected to take about two months. As part of the process, RAEDC has applied for a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit status for a new entity named Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives (RASI). The assets of RAV will be transferred to RASI. A second Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between RAEDC and RVC to develop the contract for program management. Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP are assisting RAEDC with the transactions.
Upon completion of the proposed transfer, the RAV board of directors will be dissolved and the programs and services of EIGERlab will continue with direction from RAEDC and programming by RVC. The strategic change includes TECHWORKS Training Center, located at EIGERlab, which has recently expanded training and certification opportunities for companies from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS). The institute is the nation's only American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited developer of precision manufacturing skill standards and competency assessments. NIMS certifies individual skills against standards and accredits programs that meet its quality requirement. NIMS stakeholders represent more than 6,000 American companies.
EIGERlab Client Pleased
Brad Harrison, founder of Harrison Harmonicas, the only harmonicas made 100 percent in the United States, said, "I'm very pleased at this news, that EIGERlab is now part of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. This will assist EIGERlab and the many services that are here to continue. They are a big help to businesses like me that want to grow but sometimes need technical help."
Harrison is currently "incubating" at EIGERlab, after receiving assistance by many EIGERlab programs and services, including Rapid Prototyping, Rock Valley College, Northern Illinois University and more. He won first place in the 2008 FastPitch competition on entrepreneurial potential sponsored by the Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center at EIGERlab." Harrison chose to stay in Rockford after 11 communities in six states recruited him after he won the 2008 State of Illinois Innovation contest. He chose Rockford because he could not find EIGERlab's equivalent services anywhere else.
Collaboration Key to Nurturing Startups
RAV Board Chairman Don Thayer said, "Some time ago we identified the RAEDC as an organization that could provide the strategic alliance and support we wanted. To have Rock Valley College also involved makes this partnership even stronger." Thayer was recently named chief executive officer of Illinois Growth Enterprises.
RAEDC President Janyce Fadden said, "The three organizations are very excited about this collaboration as it will allow EIGERlab to continue its important work for our community's fledgling entrepreneurs and small businesses, but with the formal support of two long-established institutions. I know that the future will see the three groups working even more closely together. We see this as creating new opportunities for our community's economic vitality. This should accelerate job creation for entrepreneurs and thus for our region."
RAEDC's incoming Board Chair Bill Roop, who led the task force exploring the merger possibility, said, "Supporting the existing businesses in our community is one of our main goals. By making sure that EIGERlab is in a strong position to do what it does well, supporting new and growing businesses that have advanced technology capabilities is an important way to improve the economic strength of our community."
Rock Valley College President Dr. Jack Becherer added, "What Rock Valley College will provide will be a natural extension of what we currently offer at EIGERlab, enabling us to reach more entrepreneurs at an important point of their startup or growth phase. I know the community will benefit from this type of resource consolidation."
ABOUT THE RAEDC
The primary role of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council is to enhance wealth creation in the Rockford Region by marketing the area and helping employers retain and create quality jobs. The RAEDC works closely with many partners to serve as a one-stop resource for clients, to improve the competitiveness of the region, and to engage the community in the work of economic development.
ABOUT THE EIGERlab
Created in 2004, EIGERlab is a research and development center that champions and studies advanced technologies. It also provides startup assistance for entrepreneurs and incubator space in the facility, 605 Fulton Avenue, Rockford. In 2009 TECHWORKS training center was added to the family of services at EIGERlab.
ABOUT ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE
Rock Valley College is a two-year community college in Rockford that serves 7,500 students in six counties. It also holds continuing education classes at more than 50 sites throughout its district and operates employment and training programs at another facility.
For More Information
Janyce Fadden, RAEDC President
815.987.8118
mailto:jfadden@rockfordil.com
http://www.rockfordil.com/
Don Thayer, RAV Board Chair
Illinois Growth Enterprises, Inc.
815.962.8333
dthayer@illinoisgrowth.com
http://www.eigerlab.org/
Dr. Jack Becherer, Rock Valley College President
815.921.4001
mailto:j.becherer@rockvalleycollege.edu
http://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/
Rock Valley College to Manage Programs at EIGERlab
For Immediate Release
December 21, 2009, Rockford, Illinois -
EIGERlab, the entrepreneurship center for advanced technology located at 605 Fulton Avenue, will become part of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC). This can help even more Rockford-area companies become successful entrepreneurs and grow their business.
The action was announced at a news conference held today at EIGERlab by representatives of EIGERlab, RAEDC and Rock Valley College (RVC). The RAEDC intends to assume the assets from the parent company of EIGERlab, Rockford Area Ventures (RAV), and to provide strategic direction and marketing for the entrepreneurship center. RAEDC intends to contract program management to RVC.
It was also announced that RAEDC and RAV have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The two groups are conducting due diligence to determine if the asset transfer can take place. The process is expected to take about two months. As part of the process, RAEDC has applied for a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit status for a new entity named Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives (RASI). The assets of RAV will be transferred to RASI. A second Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between RAEDC and RVC to develop the contract for program management. Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP are assisting RAEDC with the transactions.
Upon completion of the proposed transfer, the RAV board of directors will be dissolved and the programs and services of EIGERlab will continue with direction from RAEDC and programming by RVC. The strategic change includes TECHWORKS Training Center, located at EIGERlab, which has recently expanded training and certification opportunities for companies from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS). The institute is the nation's only American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited developer of precision manufacturing skill standards and competency assessments. NIMS certifies individual skills against standards and accredits programs that meet its quality requirement. NIMS stakeholders represent more than 6,000 American companies.
EIGERlab Client Pleased
Brad Harrison, founder of Harrison Harmonicas, the only harmonicas made 100 percent in the United States, said, "I'm very pleased at this news, that EIGERlab is now part of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. This will assist EIGERlab and the many services that are here to continue. They are a big help to businesses like me that want to grow but sometimes need technical help."
Harrison is currently "incubating" at EIGERlab, after receiving assistance by many EIGERlab programs and services, including Rapid Prototyping, Rock Valley College, Northern Illinois University and more. He won first place in the 2008 FastPitch competition on entrepreneurial potential sponsored by the Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center at EIGERlab." Harrison chose to stay in Rockford after 11 communities in six states recruited him after he won the 2008 State of Illinois Innovation contest. He chose Rockford because he could not find EIGERlab's equivalent services anywhere else.
Collaboration Key to Nurturing Startups
RAV Board Chairman Don Thayer said, "Some time ago we identified the RAEDC as an organization that could provide the strategic alliance and support we wanted. To have Rock Valley College also involved makes this partnership even stronger." Thayer was recently named chief executive officer of Illinois Growth Enterprises.
RAEDC President Janyce Fadden said, "The three organizations are very excited about this collaboration as it will allow EIGERlab to continue its important work for our community's fledgling entrepreneurs and small businesses, but with the formal support of two long-established institutions. I know that the future will see the three groups working even more closely together. We see this as creating new opportunities for our community's economic vitality. This should accelerate job creation for entrepreneurs and thus for our region."
RAEDC's incoming Board Chair Bill Roop, who led the task force exploring the merger possibility, said, "Supporting the existing businesses in our community is one of our main goals. By making sure that EIGERlab is in a strong position to do what it does well, supporting new and growing businesses that have advanced technology capabilities is an important way to improve the economic strength of our community."
Rock Valley College President Dr. Jack Becherer added, "What Rock Valley College will provide will be a natural extension of what we currently offer at EIGERlab, enabling us to reach more entrepreneurs at an important point of their startup or growth phase. I know the community will benefit from this type of resource consolidation."
ABOUT THE RAEDC
The primary role of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council is to enhance wealth creation in the Rockford Region by marketing the area and helping employers retain and create quality jobs. The RAEDC works closely with many partners to serve as a one-stop resource for clients, to improve the competitiveness of the region, and to engage the community in the work of economic development.
ABOUT THE EIGERlab
Created in 2004, EIGERlab is a research and development center that champions and studies advanced technologies. It also provides startup assistance for entrepreneurs and incubator space in the facility, 605 Fulton Avenue, Rockford. In 2009 TECHWORKS training center was added to the family of services at EIGERlab.
ABOUT ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE
Rock Valley College is a two-year community college in Rockford that serves 7,500 students in six counties. It also holds continuing education classes at more than 50 sites throughout its district and operates employment and training programs at another facility.
For More Information
Janyce Fadden, RAEDC President
815.987.8118
mailto:jfadden@rockfordil.com
http://www.rockfordil.com/
Don Thayer, RAV Board Chair
Illinois Growth Enterprises, Inc.
815.962.8333
dthayer@illinoisgrowth.com
http://www.eigerlab.org/
Dr. Jack Becherer, Rock Valley College President
815.921.4001
mailto:j.becherer@rockvalleycollege.edu
http://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/
RAEDC agrees take over EIGERlab parent group
ROCKFORD —
The Rockford Area Economic Development Council would absorb Rockford Area Ventures, which runs the EIGERlab manufacturing training, innovation and entrepreneurial center, under an agreement that is to be announced this afternoon.
RAEDC President Janyce Fadden said that bringing Rockford Area Ventures under the umbrella of the economic development group is part of an effort to better leverage local resources and sustain a program that has seen more than large investments from state and federal sources.
“It puts under one roof services that businesses need so that EIGERlab isn’t thought of only for startups,” Fadden said. “It’s also for existing businesses, and through the Voice of the Customer surveys we can use our marketing strengths to promote services at EIGERlab.”
EIGERlab, 605 Fulton Ave., is a research and development center that champions and researches advanced manufacturing technologies. Services are offered that help entrepreneurs advance their ideas through everything from strategic and business planning to financing and marketing.
Rockford Area Ventures was the idea of Jon Lundin to create a business incubator and research center. The civic leader and historian died in May 2007.
Researchers from the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Northwestern University use the lab to test advanced technology. The labs also include advanced machinery that can create prototypes at high speeds for entrepreneurs in the early stage of manufacturing.
EIGERlab added Techworks this year, a training center offering certification by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills.
Fadden said that what is being announced today is a pair of memorandums of understanding that will create a framework for the RAEDC to partner with Rock Valley College to run programming at the lab as the economic development organization acquires the assets of Rockford Area Ventures.
“We are a sales, marketing and economic development office, and we are not resourced to run programming,” Fadden said. “Programming is what Rock Valley College does very well, and so this is creating a very strong collaboration in the community to leverage the strengths of Rock Valley College and RAEDC to make sure the work that Rockford Area Ventures started doesn’t just stay in the community, but grows.”
Staff writer Jeff Kolkey can be reached at jkolkey@rrstar.com or at 815-987-1374.
RAEDC President Janyce Fadden said that bringing Rockford Area Ventures under the umbrella of the economic development group is part of an effort to better leverage local resources and sustain a program that has seen more than large investments from state and federal sources.
“It puts under one roof services that businesses need so that EIGERlab isn’t thought of only for startups,” Fadden said. “It’s also for existing businesses, and through the Voice of the Customer surveys we can use our marketing strengths to promote services at EIGERlab.”
EIGERlab, 605 Fulton Ave., is a research and development center that champions and researches advanced manufacturing technologies. Services are offered that help entrepreneurs advance their ideas through everything from strategic and business planning to financing and marketing.
Rockford Area Ventures was the idea of Jon Lundin to create a business incubator and research center. The civic leader and historian died in May 2007.
Researchers from the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Northwestern University use the lab to test advanced technology. The labs also include advanced machinery that can create prototypes at high speeds for entrepreneurs in the early stage of manufacturing.
EIGERlab added Techworks this year, a training center offering certification by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills.
Fadden said that what is being announced today is a pair of memorandums of understanding that will create a framework for the RAEDC to partner with Rock Valley College to run programming at the lab as the economic development organization acquires the assets of Rockford Area Ventures.
“We are a sales, marketing and economic development office, and we are not resourced to run programming,” Fadden said. “Programming is what Rock Valley College does very well, and so this is creating a very strong collaboration in the community to leverage the strengths of Rock Valley College and RAEDC to make sure the work that Rockford Area Ventures started doesn’t just stay in the community, but grows.”
Staff writer Jeff Kolkey can be reached at jkolkey@rrstar.com or at 815-987-1374.
Find article here.
RAEDC gains strength through teamwork
ROCKFORD (WREX) - A new partnership could bring more jobs to Rockford. EIGERlab announced on Monday that it will become part of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.
Rockford Area Ventures is also on track to hand over its assets to RAEDC, which hopes to use the extra resources to bring in new companies and encourage current ones to grow. "We certainly are looking for ways to expand the services that are here, to put more of our efforts on the front line of serving clients," said RAEDC President Janyce Fadden.
Rockford Area Ventures says it pursued the deal because it did not make sense to duplicate services. It wanted to take things to a new level, even if that meant turning things over to another group. "We couldn't be more delighted that RAEDC has taken up our offer," said RAV Board Chair Don Thayer.
Thayer says the RAV deal should be complete by the end of January.
Find article here.
Rockford Area Ventures is also on track to hand over its assets to RAEDC, which hopes to use the extra resources to bring in new companies and encourage current ones to grow. "We certainly are looking for ways to expand the services that are here, to put more of our efforts on the front line of serving clients," said RAEDC President Janyce Fadden.
Rockford Area Ventures says it pursued the deal because it did not make sense to duplicate services. It wanted to take things to a new level, even if that meant turning things over to another group. "We couldn't be more delighted that RAEDC has taken up our offer," said RAV Board Chair Don Thayer.
Thayer says the RAV deal should be complete by the end of January.
Find article here.
EIGERlab & NBIA
EIGERlab is a member of the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) who is the world's leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship.
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