"G. Leblanc Cie". was established in France by Georges Leblanc late in the 19th century, in La Couture-Boussey. In 1904 the company acquired Ets. D. Noblet, the oldest instrument manufacturer in France (established 1750). In 1945, Léon Leblanc (1900–2000) met Vito Pascucci (1922–2003), then on duty as the instruments manager and repair technician for the Glenn Miller US Army Air Force Orchestra. Pascucci and Miller had discussed opening a musical instrument distributing company and importing instruments after the war. The idea lived on with Pascucci after Miller died, and he was scouting potential suppliers. He and Leblanc reached an agreement and in 1946 founded the G. Leblanc Corporation based in Kenosha, Wisconsin.