Calzone, Anvil, Ascot

Drummer turned entrepreneur Joe Calzone founded the Calzone Case Company in January of 1975 in Norwalk, Connecticut. Along with brother Vin, they embarked on a mission to build the highest quality cases in the music business. Within seven years they had grown the business to a size whereby they outgrew two manufacturing facilities. In January 1983, the company relocated into a thirty thousand square foot building in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This location currently serves as the corporate headquarters as well as one of the manufacturing facility for Calzone Cases.

In March 1985, Calzone acquired its first competitor based in Dallas, Texas. Since the acquisition this location has moved three times, currently occupying a fifteen thousand square foot facility in Carrollton, TX, a suburb of Dallas. This was the first step in their expansion westward.

In July 1990, Calzone acquired Excalibur Cases located in Burbank, California. This acquisition gave Calzone a West Coast presence. The groundwork was in place for their ultimate challenge.

In a bold “David and Goliath” scenario, the Calzone Case Company purchased industry leader Anvil Cases in May 1996. Over six decades ago the company that is now Anvil revolutionized shipping by innovative designs in the manufacturing of reusable transit containers. As a result of their groundbreaking developments they became the icons in their industry. Asking for an Anvil case was like asking for a “Kleenex^®” or a “Coke^®.”

Calzone’s acquisition of Anvil Cases from the ZERO Corporation doubled the size of the combined Calzone Companies. This combination would comprise the nucleus of the largest fabricated case manufacturer in the world. Economies of scale purchasing, combined databases of case designs and a stronger national support team all contributed to achieving the company’s goals. Manufacturing and customer service facilities are located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Dallas, Texas and City of Industry, California. The combined strengths of their dealer networks, purchasing power and the interchange of more than a half-century of design information strengthened each location. Improved IS systems were also implemented to assure that the business of doing business became much more fluid and seamless.

In April of 2013 Rob Cooksey, founder of Ascot Cases, contacted Joe to open discussions in regards to a possible acquisition by Calzone of his pride and joy. An agreement was made and, in June, Ascot became a part of the Calzone Case family. Many of the experienced craftsmen who had been the backbone of the Ascot quality joined Anvil’s manufacturing staff in City of Industry. Ascot contributed a unique product line with many interesting features and variations from the traditional ATA style case.

In August of 2015 Calzone acquired the assets of Video Equipment Rental’s (VER) case division. With this came fourteen well trained case craftsmen and women. The assets were absorbed into the Anvil facility and increased capacity by nearly 25%. The additional employees enabled the Anvil, Ascot and Calzone brand cases to be produced and shipped at an even faster pace without compromising quality.

We are proud of our accomplishments through the years, and equally proud of our skilled and committed personnel. They are our greatest asset, and are integral to servicing our customer’s needs. We are the largest and best in the industry – talk is cheap, but after a combined one-hundred and forty years of building cases, we walk the walk every day!

ANVIL^® CASES

In 1952, the “Acme Pak” Company was formed to fill a need to package precision instruments. After World War II, it was determined that over 40 percent of war materials shipped overseas were damaged or rendered useless due to improper packaging. Originally formed as a division of Acme Pak, the first Anvil cases were designed for traveling musicians, who in the mid 1950’s turned to electric instruments and sound systems, which were far more prone to damage in transit than their acoustic predecessors.

Anvil quickly became, and still is today, the number one name in protection for musicians on the go.

Founded by the Vallas Family, Anvil quickly became synonymous with traveling musicians due to its proximity to the Los Angeles area and its timing with the birth of Rock & Roll. Having experienced tremendous growth, the family decided the timing was right to sell the company and venture into new areas for themselves. In 1976, CPA Wayne Thompson, whose background provided him with the knowledge to continue to grow the company, purchased Anvil and expanded into markets such as video, aerospace, film, military and commercial applications. Thompson solidly positioned Anvil as the industry leader.

In 1988, Anvil was sold to ZERO Corporation, a public company specializing in packaging of all types for the electronics industry. It was at first an ideal fit, but Anvil became less than a true fit in the mid 1990’s when the business began to involve much more custom manufacturing and fewer standard cases. In May 1996, The Calzone Case Company purchased Anvil Cases. Led by founder and president Joe Calzone, the Anvil Case Division began its resurgence as the acknowledged world leader.

Combined with the three Calzone manufacturing facilities throughout the USA, the Calzone/Anvil team represents the largest fabricated case manufacturer in the world. Anvil products are sold throughout North America and around the globe. The organization’s design and sales staff is the largest and most experienced in the industry. Anvil’s dedication to Customer Service and Satisfaction and its nationwide network of Sales Representatives allow Anvil to custom design cases to meet virtually any requirement or deadline. From heavy-duty transit to lightweight carrying cases, Anvil manufactures a comprehensive line of cases to meet the demands of every market it serves.

ASCOT^® CASES

In May of 2013, Calzone/Anvil Cases acquired the assets of Ascot Superior Flight Cases. Ascot Cases was founded by Rob Cooksey over three decades ago in Newbury Park, CA, and quickly became a favorite among many industries, including rock n’ roll touring, where his roots ran deep. Cooksey began as a touring roadie and production manager for numerous classic 1970s bands, ultimately becoming Deep Purple’s manager before getting off the road and founding Ascot Cases. He directed his efforts towards providing the touring industry what he felt would survive life on the road. Ascot’s unique ‘one box’ fabrication processes and raw material components assured the company’s products the respect of the touring industry.