Kazoo Factory, Museum and Gift Shop of Eden

By Todd Moning
FMCA.com editor

A kazoo.

Anyone can play one. Simply hum into the mouthpiece to create a buzzing or vibrating sound.

Learn all about kazoos at the Kazoo Factory and Museum in Eden, N.Y., the same site where the first metal kazoos were manufactured and patented.

The company, established in 1916, still makes a full line of kazoos in the original factory.

The museum exhibits trace the history of kazoos and the factory. Display cases showcase kazoos in all shapes and sizes: antique kazoos, wooden kazoos, silver and gold kazoos, and many more.

The creative kazoos are interesting, including a liquor bottle version made in 1934 to celebrate the end of Prohibition. There’s also a Woody Woodpecker model.

The museum also displays Kazoo trivia. Did you know that “Kazoo” was the nickname of U.S. Navy ship Kalamazoo?

Tours
A free, self-guided tour of the factory, adjacent to the museum, is available. In the viewing area, watch kazoos being made on the original equipment — die presses used in 1907 when the building housed a sheet metal workshop. One 10-horsepower motor powers more than 20 machines.

Stand behind a railing while workers shape and crimp metal into submarine-shaped kazoos. They use presses to flange edges, curve bottoms and tops, and stamp out the air hole. The Kazoo parts are fastened together over a mold, and resonators and caps inserted by hand.

While you watch, a worker describes the manufacturing process and answers questions.

The facility churns out about 35,000 kazoos per week. During the tour, you can make your own kazoo.

Gift shop
The Boutique Gift Shop sells classic metal kazoos ($1.99 each) and assorted plastic kazoos ($1.29), including black models imprinted with “40 and Still Humming” and other lighthearted messages. Trombone kazoos, French horn kazoos and others also are available.

In addition to kazoos, the gift shop offers toys, wind chimes, glassware, hand-made instruments, and children’s books.

Details
Allow about 20 minutes for the self-guided tour, plus about 10-minutes to view a video about the company.

The facility is located at 8703 S. Main St. It is open year-round Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Free parking for several motorhomes is available.

Groups of 20 or more should call (716) 992-3960 to make an appointment for a tour.

Leon, N.Y. Amish community, is about 20 minutes away from Eden. Perry’s Ice Cream in Akron is about 40 minutes away.

 

More info links:

Kazoo Factory, Museum & Gift Shop
www.edenkazoo.com

Town of Eden
www.edenny.org

Perry’s Ice Cream
www.perrysicecream.com