This article is a slight revision of Chris Clark's excellent recollecions of working at Time Guitars, titled "A short history of Time.", available at [www.timeguitars.com].
Founding of the Company
Time Guitars was founded by Alan Stack in 1973. The Company was located in several Vermont locations during its existence. Time produced hundreds of handmade guitars from the 1970s through the 1980s. They even made a few banjos, mandolins and dulcimers.
Alan worked for a company called Mellisa Guitars in the 60's where he learned his craft. The Mellisa guitars had a distinctive lower bout that inspired the slanty curves on the later Time Caster. Alan built the first Time Guitar in Florida. This was an acoustic for his wife Donna. In 1970-72, Alan moved to Vermont and setup a small shop in Bristol, Vermont. No one is quite sure how Alan fit the shop in a Z600 for the trip from Florida...
Alan always wanted his guitars to stand out. He wanted you to either love them or hate them right away.
John Sollinger was Alan's first employee. John had been a long time friend of Alan in Florida and Alan convinced John to make the move to Vermont.
The Funky Waltham Factory
The first electric Time guitars were built in the Bristol shop. John soon returned to Florida. Alan then purchased the second shop in Waltham. This was a larger house that he converted to a factory proper. Albeit, a funky factory.
John S. soon returned to be joined by Robert Resnik and Harry G. It was at this location that the 1st production Time Kaster and GS electric guitars were developed.
Chris Clark's first exposure to the crew was in Waltham where Robert Resnik taught him how to do a fret honing on my Mastertone banjo. There was a whole cast of characters in Waltham that reportedly lived on popcorn and pinto beans.
Building Times in the Basement of Darrell's Music Store
Alan finished a few guitars in the basement of Darrell's Music Store on Pearl St. in Burlington after moving the operation out of Waltham. Darrell's basement was also the site of Robert's Resnik's musical instrument repair shop, which came into operation when Resnik moved back to Burlington in April 1977.
Time Gets Financing and Moves to the Barn in South Burlington
The move from Darrell's and to the barn was partially financed by new Time's patron/part owner, Dick Willis of Richmond, Vermont. At this point the name was changed to Time Guitars Inc. That was around 1977. Soon after Chris Clark was hired full time and was working with Alan and John.
After the barn was completed, John left to start the Vermont Sled Company. Robert was doing repair work in Burlington.
At this point, Alan interviewed and hired Paul Langudoc and Tim Schner to help with the growing production. Alan never intended to have Time Guitar become a luthier/ Craftsmen style company. Alan was intent on growing the company. Hence, the company was always called 'Time Guitars' and never 'Stack Guitars'.
Using just a quarter of the space in the barn, The workforce could easily produce 25 guitars a month. The barn was large enough to let the company expand to over 200 instruments a month.
This was the heyday of Time guitars. Hundreds of instruments were produced. Many of the new models were created. Artist endorsements and national advertising were ramping up.
Employee roster:
Alan Stack John Sollinger Robert Resnik Harry Grabenstein Chris Clark Martin Grosswendt Wendy Rother Paul Langudoc Tim Schner Don Sidney Eric Bresnick Chris Paul Clyde Stats Mark Willis Justin Willis
The Founder Leaves
Around 1982, Alan Stack sold his interest in the company to Dick Willis. At this point Dick promoted Chris Clark to General Manager. The company tried several unorthodox marketing methods. All of which "started off slow and then gradually tapered off." -- one of Alan's famous quotes.... It was during this time that the Prime Time & Advance Time guitars were introduced.
The Robbery
On August 4th 1984, Time guitars was robbed. Ten Guitars were stolen. Later that week seven were recovered, but were too damaged to sell. This placed a huge burden on the company. The thief, Eben Sexton, was ordered to reimburse Time, but never did. All guitars sold after this date had their serial number stamped at the fingerboard end. This allows police to identify guitars more easily. Earlier guitars have this number at the end of neck, where it is obscured by the neck pickup.
Time Guitars Goes Out of Business
As sales failed to keep pace with expenses, Dick Willis brought in his son Justin. Justin become the General Manager. Clark left the company shortly after this change. In 1987, Time Guitars officially closed. The Willis family sold many of the unfinished guitars. Other guitars were divided among the Willis siblings.
The Fire
On November 13 1991, the Time Guitars barn was torched by an arsonist. Almost all the contents were destroyed. For many, this was one of the saddest days.