Yamaha

Yamaha :Branding tuning fork in its logo

Famous for heavy motorbikes the Japanese brand Yamaha was once known for its famous Piano. Torakusu Yamaha , founder of the company stasted the company with the name Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. in 1887 as apiano and reed organ manufacturer.

The first organ made by  Torakusu Yamaha however, was criticized harshly for its poor tuning. So he began studying music theory and tuning. After endless struggles  he was finally able to complete the organ,with the concept of the tuning fork mark, inspired by the difficult experience of studying tuning while holding a tuning fork in his hand.

In 1898, one year after the establishment of Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd., forerunner to today's Yamaha Corporation, the company decided to use a tuning fork as its corporate mark, with "a design featuring a hoo (Chinese phoenix) holding a tuning fork in its mouth" as the trademark. Since then, after undergoing a variety of changes that paralleled the growth of the company, the tuning fork mark was finally unified in 1967.

1898	This is the design with a hoo (Chinese phoenix) holding a tuning fork in its mouth, which was established as the trademark in 1898, one year after Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. was established. The mark was known for being used on top quality organs, which illustrates how the Founder always aimed to create world-class products.
1927	A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork and Yamaha Veneer mark.
1934	A design widely used in newspaper advertising and catalogs.
1937	A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork used on organs.
	A trademark application was submitted for this tuning fork used on pianos.
	A trademark application for tuning forks alone.
1956	A trademark application was submitted to be used on musical instruments.
1959	A trademark application was submitted to be used on musical instruments.
1998	The current standard and special versions of the tuning fork marks were established.