A new music invention is being manufactured in Dolores, and it's moving up the charts.
Bob Waggoner is a local musician who recognized a common problem that he set out to fix in 2000.
Lugging around bulky and awkward music stands to gigs is well known by concert bands, professional musicians, and school music teachers. But Waggoner has solved that problem with a creative portable music stand that folds up into itself for easy storage and transport.
After a prototype and rebuild process, Waggoner launched the Desca Presto music stand to the industry.
"I came up with the idea by turning what is called a pencil shelf on music stands into a storage box that the stand folds up into," he explained in an interview at his manufacturing shop on Central Avenue.
The convenient design allows musicians playing from sheet music to stash extra wood-wind reeds, pencils, picks, tuners, cell phones, or whatever within an open rectangular box shelf.
"I always hated turning the page and knocking the pencil off," Waggoner said. "My design offers a place to keep stuff out of the way while playing. When finished, the shelf turns into a locking carrying case."
The adjustable unit extends to a regular-size music stand, weighs less than four pounds, and only costs $35. When folded up into its case, the dimensions are 20 inches by 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches.
"It is ideal for traveling bands because when folded up, they don't take up much space, and they stack together really well," he said. "Not all venues have a music stand, so this gives the musician an affordable option to easily bring one with them."
Waggoner sells his patented design direct to the customer to avoid added costs of stocking his product in retail stores.
He uses custom-molded, durable plastic parts for the sheet music stand and storage box shelf. The base legs are sturdy steel and the adjustable post is a fiberglass hybrid.
The Desca Presto music stand ideal for school band departments, community bands, church groups, traveling bands and individual musicians in need of affordable, functional music stands that are easily stored.
A physics teacher by training, Waggoner is a true tinkerer, a skill he needed to overcome design challenges.
"I created specialized hinges that allow the stand to fold up into the carrying case with out being flimsy when set up," he said. "And the locking mechanism for the fold-out legs also took time to figure out. The legs are heavier steel, so it is nicely weighted at the bottom when set up ."
Waggoner's business, Desca, is the Italian word for desk, and is a common symphony trade term.
The company also makes a music folder designed to prevent sheet music from blowing away at outdoor concerts and performances. The FHolder costs $9, and utilizes plastic sleeves to easily slide music into during a performance.
Business is starting to take off. So farb one assembly plant worker has been hired to fill orders, and more staff is planned.
"The response has been encouraging. We're ready for full-scale production and are excited about our products and new business in Dolores," Waggoner said.
Orders are taken online at www.descahome.com Or stop into the shop at 411 Central, Suite 1, Dolores for a purchase and friendly chat with staff. Desca's phone number is 882-2480.
