Kay Musical Instrument Company Kay Musical Instrument Company Kay Musical Instrument Company was a musical instrument manufacturer of the United States, in operation from the 1930s until the 1960s. Kay was established in 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, by Henry Kay Kuhrmeyer, from the assets of the former Stromberg-Voisinet (founded as Groeschel Mandolin Company in 1890). Kay offered their first electric guitar in 1936 — five years after the Rickenbacker "Frying pan", and the same year as the Gibson ES-150. However, the Kuhrmeyer-owned Stromberg-Voisinet brand had produced the Stromberg Electro even earlier, in 1928, making the short-lived model arguably the first commercial electric guitar. The
Institute of Musical Instrument Technology u. Söhne Pianos) and Dr William McVicker (Royal Festival Hall). Corporate members of the institute use the letters F.I.M.I.T. (Fellow of the Institute of Musical Instrument Technology), and M.I.M.I.T. (Member of the Institute of Musical Instrument Technology). Honorary Life Members and Honorary Life Fellows are also Corporate members. Associates use the initials A.I.M.I.T. (Associate of the Institute of Musical Instrument Technology) but are Non-corporate members. Honorary Fellows, Students, Companions, and Graduates are not Corporate members. The Institute publishes a Newsletter and an annual "Directory", both of which are available exclusively to its membership. The current President/Secretary is Malcolm Dalton FIMIT;