A. Laubin
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A. Laubin, Inc. is a maker of oboes and English horns, located in Peekskill, New York. The first Laubin oboe was made in 1931 by Alfred Laubin, a performing musician who was dissatisfied with the quality of instruments available at the time. The creation of oboes began as a home project, but soon Mr. Laubin was able to make oboes which met the demands of his own playing career. The intonation and reliability of these instruments also impressed his professional oboist friends, many of whom began playing Alfred's oboes during this time. Eventually, oboe-making developed into a full-time occupation, beginning in the late 1950's. In 1956, Alfred's eldest son Paul Laubin joined the business, doing repair work and eventually learning every aspect of oboe-making before taking over the business when Alfred died in 1976.
Today, a workshop of three, including Paul Laubin, his son Alexander, and longtime repairman and instrument finisher David Teitelbaum, continue to produce just under 20 instruments per year. While every other oboe manufacturer has moved to an automated process, using computerized milling machines and standardized parts, Laubin still does everything essentially by hand, using only belt-driven lathes, drills, and hand-tools.
In spite of their relative scarcity, Laubin oboes are played by a significant number of highly-regarded oboists, including the principal players in several of America's major symphony orchestras.