Books › Ayars, Contributions to the Art of Music in America by the Music Industries of Boston (1937) — the Squier, Farley, Rettberg, Rockwell and Elias Howe matter, 1937 › scan 128
Scan 128
Ayars, Contributions to the Art of Music in America by the Music Industries of Boston (1937) — the Squier, Farley, Rettberg, Rockwell and Elias Howe matter, 1937
9 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 106. See the scan on archive.org.
1ments. John Osborn was his apprentice and, after learning the cabinet business, then learned in our factory the interior work of Pianos and afterwards set up for himself in Pantheon Hall . . . probably about 1814."8 In 1812 the firm had troubles arising from the war and the Hayts went to Buffalo.8 Captain John Mackay of Weston took their place supplying the capital. Lewis Babcock died in January 1814. When the firm failed in the panic of 1819 the shop on [address hidden] was sold to settle the affairs of the firm and the partners all separated.
3Alpheus was in business again in 1821 at [address hidden], and in 1822 at Parkman's Market, [address hidden], with Captain Mackay and the latter's brother, G. D. Mackay. Alpheus Babcock's iron plate was invented about this time and patented December 17, 1825. An instrument containing this invention was shown at the Fourth Annual Exhibition of the Franklin Institute in October 1827 and was referred to thus, "Especial mention is made of a horizontal pianoforte by A. Babcock of Boston, of an improved construction, the frame which supports the strings being of solid cast iron and strong enough to resist their enormous tension. This instrument was finished in the highest manner possible."9 "In 1830 he took out a patent for 'cross-stringing pianofortes,' together with an iron ring intended for string hitching purposes, which no doubt gave rise to the expression 'Babcock's iron ring.'" John Mackay while connected with Babcock took out a patent August 14, 1828 for a new method of covering (and boring the shankholes of) hammer heads.
5An excellent example of A. Babcock's fine work can be seen in a small square pianoforte of his now in the Denver Art Museum, City and County Building, Denver, Colo., still in playable condition. Its name plate reads—"A. Babcock for G. D. Mackay, Boston, Mass." This instrument has an action more akin to that in present use than that contained in some pianofortes of other later makers, and has a sweet tone. The beautiful case shows his fine craftsmanship as a woodworker. One of his instruments made for G. D. Mackay was owned and used by Lowell Mason for fifty years, from
78 American Musician. "The Early Boston Piano Makers," July 2, 1887, Mr. Appleton's Statement.
89 For a diagram and discussion of A. Babcock's iron plate compared with Conrad Meyer's unpatented iron plate see Daniel Spillane's History of the American Pianoforte pp. 120-4.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.