Bates-Hendricks in Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Leedy Manufacturing Company

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 20, 2022

1. Leedy Manufacturing Company Marker (Front)

Inscription.
Musician and inventor Ulysses G. Leedy (1867-1931) founded the Leedy Manufacturing Company and established a factory here in 1903 to make percussion instruments such as drums and xylophones. An innovative company with over 30 patents, it improved the snare drum, refined the manufacture of the tympani, and invented the Vibraphone, an instrument popular with dance bands.

The company became one of the world’s largest producers of percussion instruments. In 1921, it built the famous bass drum for Purdue University’s marching band. By 1929, it globally distributed approximately 900 products, including sound-effect instruments for early films. The company’s operations moved to Elkhart in 1930 and were discontinued in Indiana by 1955.

Erected 2021 by Indiana Historical Bureau, David E. Steele, Harry Cangany, Jr., SENSE Charter School, Leedy Family, and Friends of Leedy Manufacturing Company. (Marker Number 49.2021.5.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 39° 44.775′ N, 86° 8.463′ W. Marker is in Indianapolis

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, Indiana, in Marion County. It is in Bates-Hendricks. It is at the intersection of Barth Avenue and Palmer Street, on the right when traveling north on Barth Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1555 Barth Ave, Indianapolis IN 46203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bates-Hendricks House (approx. half a mile away); Hook's Drug Stores (approx. 0.6 miles away); 28th Regiment USCT (approx. 0.8 miles away); South Side Turnverein (approx. 0.8 miles away); Holy Rosary/Danish Church Historic District (approx. 0.8 miles away); Rosenbaum House (approx. 0.8 miles away); “Cannon Ball” Baker (approx. 0.9 miles away); Holy Rosary - Danish Church Historic District (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Indianapolis.

Also see . . . Leedy Manufacturing Company and Purdue’s “World’s Largest Drum”. (Submitted on November 21, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Leedy Manufacturing Company Marker (Back) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 20, 2022

2. Leedy Manufacturing Company Marker (Back)

Leedy Manufacturing Company Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 20, 2022

3. Leedy Manufacturing Company Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 592 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 21, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.