The Fire

[schundog]

I ran across this pic I took a couple years ago at PSP. I recall vague conversations about a fire in 2007, I think, and that it almost spelled the end for the company. Does anyone have any more clear information on this? How long were they shut down? Isn't this when Vince became a partner? Had he not, would the boys have called it quits? What areas were affected, and how much damage was physically done? My apologies if this has been discussed previously.

 

 

[Genericmusic]

http://youtu.be/YPSe6HgqHgw

[Guest HRB853370]

I once talked to Ren about it and the plant was closed for a few months-and yes, it did almost spell doom for the company. This was during a Wednesday afternoon tour with Ren (my first trip to 225 Parsons Street while I was vacationing in Michigan back in 2005). The affected part was on the far left side of the plant as you enter it from the front. He showed us charred evidence of the fire.

[tulk1]

We saw quite a bit of evidence of the fire on the inaugural PSP tour. The HoC was just gaining speed a year or so after the fire. The plant was producing, but not up to capacity. Orders weren't being filled, sometimes sitting for months (years?) before getting built. Jay Wolfe was our best contact during that time. There was even a notice on the website that Heritage was in negotiations to sell the whole biz. I may check the way back machine to see if I can find a screen capture of that. It was a bit disheartening, to say the least. Whether or not Vince was their saving grace I can't comment on. But he was influential in keeping the doors open. I have no doubt, as well, that the HoC helped a bit, too.

[HANGAR18]

I recall vague conversations about a fire in 2007, .

 

 

I once talked to Ren about it... while I was vacationing in Michigan back in 2005...

 

There seems to be a discrepancy as to the year of the fire. 2007 seems right but I have nothing to base that on.

[tulk1]

2007.

[Gitfiddler]

2007 rings true to me also. In fact, that was Heritage's 23rd year in business.

 

To celebrate their 'rise from the ashes', they created a special run of 535's and 150's with "23" inlayed in the 12th fret.

 

Some folks thought it was in honor of Michael Jordan's jersey number.

[fxdx99]

Aug 2007 report company for sale:

http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2007/08/heritage_guitars_owners_workin.html

 

Nov 2007 Vince joins Heritage:

http://blog.mlive.com/kalamazoo_gazette_extra/2007/11/guitar_hero_local_attorney_swo.html

 

Expanded article Jan 2008:

http://www.encorekalamazoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Encore-2008-01.pdf

 

 

[yoslate]

Yep, 2007.... I ordered my Super Eagle on the heels of the fire, which was one reason (allegedly) it took thirteen months to finish. It's my understanding that the fire wasn't the biggest problem, rather, the water damage which occurred in the plant as a result of the fire left a big mess. Imagine cleaning that shop and the equipment, after being drowned in fighting the fire....

[Vanschoyck]

Aug 2007 report company for sale:

http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2007/08/heritage_guitars_owners_workin.html

 

Nov 2007 Vince joins Heritage:

http://blog.mlive.com/kalamazoo_gazette_extra/2007/11/guitar_hero_local_attorney_swo.html

 

Expanded article Jan 2008:

http://www.encorekalamazoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Encore-2008-01.pdf

 

 

Fantastic info - thank you fxdx99!

[Guest HRB853370]

 

 

There seems to be a discrepancy as to the year of the fire. 2007 seems right but I have nothing to base that on.

My feeble memory. My trip was indeed in the fall of 2007 and not 2005!!! Twas the year before PSP1.

[TalismanRich]

I remember Marv talking about the large amount of lost wood, and the damage to the elevator, which was significant and expensive. At PSPII, there were still signs of the fire, mostly blackened areas of wall and ceiling.

[Gitfiddler]

Did the Heritage factory have fire insurance?

 

They seemed to come back better than ever post fire.

[pegleg32]

I love Katy's quote at the end of the second article Randy posted. The 3rd article gives a very good explanation of the roles of the various people involved at the top, and sort of gives an indication as to what the future is likely to hold.