Kazoo Factory

     We are always looking for new and exciting (and not to exciting but casual) things to do and we just weren't finding a lot of things in the local vicinity. Yes, there was Hilton Head Island and a few other places of great interest that we are missing out on just because we don’t really want to travel that far right now. The RV Park we were staying at was way out in the boonies! (Darn, we’ll have to check Hilton Head Island out next time!) So, one of the few fun and interesting things we found to do was the Kazoo Factory! We really weren't sure what we were expecting; but, boy did it blow us away! We thought we might have a little fun; but, little did we know we were in for a lot of fun and even quite a bit of learning too!

     As we arrived there, after seeing and reading about it online, we were looking for a pretty big factory-type building. We passed up a few bigger factory-type buildings and came along to the Kazoo Factory being a VERY tiny little building! It was at this point we figured maybe our expectations were a little too high and maybe we should just not embarrass everyone, or even ourselves, for making this a bigger deal than it was and just leave. Instead we decided to go ahead and go in! 

     Is anyone still wondering what is a kazoo? My first thought was that a kazoo was the little alien guy on the Flintstones!!! No, it wasn't the little green guy it was a small plastic pipe-looking instrument that you hum into! Also, do you remember the funny noises you hear on the cartoons? For example, when roadrunner falls off of a cliff, it’s “that whistling” noise!
     So, as soon as we walked in and started looking around, we were greeted by no less than the owner of the store! He told us we’d first watch a short video and then he’d take us on a tour of the factory! The video was a short video explaining the history of the kazoo. Kazoos come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. They even have an electric one and a gold-plated (or dipped) one! Who knew? They've also been used to market and sell almost anything! After the movie, the owner took us through all the different machines it takes to make them. You would not believe how much work goes into making kazoos! We learned there are only two places in the United States that make them. I can’t recall what the New York one does; however, this is the only one that makes plastic kazoos. The current owner (who has been in the business for a relatively short period of time), has done a lot of research to make sure that he offers the most safety conscious product and with the most features and accessories! You can even imprint your company information on them and hand them out for advertisement. Each of the machines he uses, are very expensive, but, if someone would try to copycat his kazoos, they would not be able to meet the same safety standards that he goes through at his company to make them safe for kids.
The owner explaining that the kazoos are made
from injection molds!
This is the actual injection mold up close. Each kazoo mold
actually has a number so if a mold is not up to the high
quality that they require, they are able to see which mold number
is having issues!




Kazoo Factory Tour - THIS WAY! :)
This an example of several kazoos that have been finished with
several different colors!


They always have several made up of all
the different colors so that each kazoo can
be hand designed according to the customer! 
Various machines do various things.
Some machines actually imprint info
onto the kazoo, while others package them,
while still others do other things like tightly
push the pieces together.
This lady's only job is to get the cap to be placed into
the kazoo. She puts it into a machine and it does the rest for her! 



This one is imprinted with "Over the Hill!"
This machine individually wrapped each kazoo!


This is the material inside the kazoo that
you are humming on which makes the
different noises!

The owner showing us some more
accessories that we later decided we
couldn't do without!
Another must have machine for the
Kazoo Factory owner! :) It tightens
accessories on the kazoo!


Now it's our turn to pick our colors and make our own kazoo!
This is an example of each piece being a different
color and adding accessories to it!


Now we get to pick our cap to go into our kazoo!
This machine seals the cap into the kazoo
very tightly so the humming material is
placed tightly in the system so it doesn't
fall out and malfunction!
Us after completing our tour and making
our own kazoos! We feel like experts now -
well, maybe not so much! But it was a lot
of fun! 
Here is where we all got to hum and find
out how tough it can be to make the noise
you are hoping to make when you first try it!
lol! The owner passionately showed us how
to make cartoon roadrunner noises!
(I think I recorded that on video, if so,
I'll post it soon!)
24 Karat Gold Kazoo!
Ringo, Mickey Mouse, and an
original wood kazoo!
Scooby's Kazoo!
The Kazoo Brothers!!!
                         
Famous Amos Cookies Kazoo!
Marketing for Anything and Everything!

Fish Caller Kazoo!
 
Kazoobie Electric Kazoo!   
Museum History with Kazoo
Accessories!
Brad sealing his kazoo!
Another machine to add features!



Our very own Kazoo! It states,
"I visited the Kazoo Museum
in Beaufort, SC!"
Brad and Kristi showing off
all the great noises they are
making with their new kazoos!
Great pic of my great kids after having
lots of fun and learning soooo much! 
       


      We ended the tour by making our very own kazoo! We had the choice of any color we wanted for the main piece and connector. After all that, if you would like the extender pieces, necklace to hold it, books, lessons to play music on them, etc., they had all of those pieces and accessories in the gift shop area! All of this for four dollars a person including the make and take kazoo!  :-)  The warning to fellow parents out there!!! The kids want to play them nonstop! So, they have strict rules to not play it in the vehicle while driving (that’s all we need – a wreck!) and they can only play it by neighbors that we are ready to be without - - - just kidding on that last part!