Charles H. Kaman                                                                          

with Dr. Joan Thomson

Farmington, Connecticut

June 30, 1978

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Side a                                                                                                                         pp. 1-16

Early education--early music experiences, Tommy Dorsey’s offer--family background, father’s engineering business--family musical background--first guitar, first recordings--starting Ovation--a diversifying Kaman Corporation--John Ringso--constructing the first Ovation guitar--experiments with frequency--introducing his guitars to Charlie Bird and Josh White

Side b                                                                                                                                    pp. 16-32

Marketing to distributors--helicopter developments--starting his own company--comraderie with Kaman Corporation--family ancestry--military contractual problems--tape recording--guitar bracings--experiments with touch and feel--producing solid body electric guitars.

Side c                                                                                                                         pp. 32-43

Success of Ovation--future developments--influence of Glen Campbell--alterations to the Ovation--involvement in the detail--different models and bracing patterns--experimenting with new ideas--marketing the guitar--son entering dad’s business

Side d                                                                                                                                    pp. 43-49

Close contact to Ovation--making solid body guitars--electronic developments--factories in Moosup and New Hartford.