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Ithaca Journal

September 18, 1969

Moog Plans to Build Manufacturing Plant
By John Peck

TRUMANSBURG - With the help of the Trumansburg area Development Corp., R. A. Moog, Inc. here, inventor of the reknowned Moog Synthesizer, expects to break ground for a $200,000 to $300,000 manufacturing plant here this fall. Occupancy is expected in 1970, and the work force eventually increased from its current 35 to 100.
The 15,0OO to 16,000 square-foott, one-story steel building is expected to be built on 12 acres of land lying between Congress and Prospect Sts. It is the former Magner property, now owned by the Stone families.
Moog has an option to buy the land for $15,000.
Moog, who holds the PhD. degree in engineering physics from Cornell University, opened his firm in the Kane Baldwin store on Main St. in July 1953. The corporation still occupies that site.
Prior to that time, Moog invented and manufactured electronic musical instruments in his home.

His inventing of the Moog synthesizer made him internationally famous, and his work was chronicled in several national magazines and national news services. The synthesizer has been used by Leonard Bernstein in concert at Lincoln Center in New York City and is used by several music groups. Moog recently gave a concert on the instrument at the New York City Museum of Modern Art. Musicians and composers from throughout the world have come to Trumansburg to see Moog's manufacturing process and to hear the synthesizer. Moog has appeared on several nation-wide television programs.

The circumstances surrounding the construction of the new plant are unusual.
Through the Trumansburg Area Development Corp., financing for the project will be sought in three ways.

It is planned to receive 30 per cent of the financing funds through the New York State Job Development Authority, a subdivision of the State Department of Commerce. The TADC will seek 50 per cent of the financing through local financial agencies, with the remaining 20 per cent to be raised by
"community participation." The plan calls for Moog to repay the money and gain ownership for the Moog Corporation through a "buy-backlease Herrick, speaking for the TADC, said:
The TADC is a non-profit corporation, organized in 1965 to attract new industry to Trumansburg and to aid existing business in such fields as expansion. Its chairman is James Crimmins, a grocer.
The other incorporators are Robert Herrick, manager of the Trumansburg branch of the Tompkins County Trust Co.; Arthur (Bud) Golder, a Trumansburg attorney; and Edward Farrell, an insurance underwriter.
Eric speaking for the TADC, said:
The TADC is a non-profit corporation in every sense of the word. None of its members will make a nickel from this project. We are not speculators.
"We came into only to help industry and business."
"Bob Moog came to us several months ago and said his Corporation has outgrown its space. He asked for help in finding a new site; and in financing. We asked him to describe what he needed and we went to work."
Herrick said details of the community participation in the plant construction project have not been worked out. One thought is that debentures might be sold.

 

Rezoning of the proposed building site from residential to commercial will be necessary, but the TACA said it is confident that this will be no obstacle.
Herrick said that every resident in the Congress and Prospect Sts. area was contacted before the TADC went ahead with its plans, "and they were overwhelmingly enthusiastic." Herrick said.
"The people of this village are quite obviously aware of the importance to Trumansburg of Bob Moog's operation. We have received nothing but enthusiastic support from all persons contacted."

The TADC itself will ask the zoning board of appeals to rezone the land.
Moog was obviously very happy about developments when interviewed by The Journal on Wednesday. "I want to express my deep appreciation for the great support I've been getting from the village, and from the TADC in particular," he said.
I would. like, however, to make one thing clear. We did not gain our worldwide reputation solely through the effort of 'Bob Moog.' We have a lot of skilled people working with us. It is pretty much of a team effort, and I should particularly like to commend our visiting composer, Chris Swansen.
"Ours is an innovative, technological business, and our work is to come up with new things in the world of music. We are definitely not a mass production organization.
"We have great plans and, through such groups as the TADC and the people of Trumansburg, and we think we can see those plans through to fruition."