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Materials Science and Engineering Seminar

Joseph Mitchell

Zildjain Company

Abstract

Humankind’s existence is interwoven with musical expression (song, dance, instruments) dating back to time immemorial. In all parts of the ancient world metal craftsmen melted, poured, and hand-worked bronze cymbals. These shimmering instruments gave means for expressing joy in worship or celebration, providing brilliance of sound when played in musical ensemble, and frightening one’s enemies in battle. The cymbal, an instrument which evolved in the distant past and yet remains vibrant in today’s world of music, celebration, and religious ceremony, is examined through a lens of old-world manufacturing techniques and application of modern production technologies. Metallurgical analysis (chemistry, metallography, hardness) of various stages of cymbal production is presented (metal alloying, casting, heat treatment, forming techniques and technologies) and their effect on cymbal aesthetics and sound discussed.

Bio

Mr. Joseph Paul Mitchell is Director of Operations at the Zildjian Company (Norwell, MA), the world’s premier cymbal manufacturer. With an onsite foundry, bronze is melted, cast, rolled, and subsequently cold-worked into beautiful looking and sounding instruments. Prior to employment at Zildjian, Mr. Mitchell was Director of Operations and Technical at The Miller Company (Meriden, CT), a slitting service center providing phosphor bronze and specialty alloy connector strip for automotive, telecommunication, electrical, medical, and other industries. Mr. Mitchell also worked as Plant Metallurgist at True Temper Sports (Amory, MS), the world’s number one golf shaft brand. At True Temper, coiled steel strip is welded into tubing and subsequently undergoes numerous heat treating and metal forming processes. Beginning his career with an AAS in Metallurgical Science Technology, Mr. Mitchell also earned a BS and MBA from Lawrence Technological University (Southfield, MI).