Due to falling exchange rates, Kornblum's purchase cost him less than anticipated and made it possible for him to offer the goods to music instrument retailers in St. Louis at exceptionally low prices.
SLM survived the World War II-era by diversifying and selling paint, leather goods, and fine writing instruments.
[3] Bernard's son Gene joined the company full-time in 1961, and the birth of Rock and roll and the mainstream popularity of bands like The Beatles created unprecedented demand for products like drum sets and guitars.
In 1971, the company acquired exclusive distribution rights to the Elka Rhapsody string synthesizer and moved into expanded facilities on Ferguson Avenue.
At the same time, St. Louis Music refined its processes for importing unfinished string instruments with final assembly and setup in the U.S..
In March 2005, after a two-year search for potential buyers, St. Louis Music was sold to LOUD Technologies for USD$38.4M in cash and stock.
At the time, SLM was generating USD $85M in annual revenue, and had 350 employees in its combined service and headquarters, warehouse, engineering offices, and manufacturing plants in Missouri and Arkansas.