Last updated: 1/3/00.
History
The story of Hagstrom starts 1921 in Älvdalen, Sweden
when Albin Hagström (1905-52) imports two accordions
from Germany. Three years later he buys 25 more
accordions which all gets sold, partially with the help
from advertising. In 1925 Albin founds the company Albin
Hagström which remained as the company name to the end,
but from 1936 with the addition AB (Inc.). The increasing
successes made the company ready to try their own
manufacturing in 1932 (or 1931, contradictory information).
The yearly production of accordions reached 20,000 during
the 50's and Hagstrom noticed a growing demand for
guitars. Therefore, the company started building guitars
of which a great deal went on export, mainly to the USA.
Rumors say only 10% stayed on the Swedish market.
Sometimes other names were used for the export market e.g.
Kent, Goya, and Futurama. Hagstrom also imported guitars
and basses from Fender and Gibson.
A multiple chain of stores was started 1945, and was a
way to increase sales figures in Sweden and later also in
Norway and Denmark. The accordion production was
discontinued in 1970 and the production was focused on
guitars, basses and amplifiers. Mother-of toilet-seat and
celluloid from the accordion production had earlier been
used on guitars, which can have been because a decreased
production of accordions and a excess of the two
materials.
The company ceased production in 1983 after a short
unsuccessful period of Japan produced instruments.
Hagstrom built totally 128,583 electric and semi-acoustic
basses and guitars (to be compared with 700.000
accordions).
Many people have speculated in the resurrection of the
brand like Burns, Vox, Höfner, MXR, Dan-Electro or
Electro-Harmonix, but it's doubtful if we ever will see
the name Hagstrom on new instruments again.
Nirvana and Foo Figthers guitarist Pat Smear likes
Hagstrom so much that he tried to buy the name to start
production again.