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 270
Scan 270
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
40 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 244. See the scan on archive.org.
1I. B. Other Boston Pianoforte Makers—Period 1840-1915 (Continued)
3Addresses from Boston Business Directories
5Names of Firms and Information About the Firms
71836—[address hidden]
9DAVIS (BENJ. B.) & FOBES (EDWIN)
11Sometime before 1836 Davis & Fobes became partners and remained so into 1838. After that Fobes' name was listed only as a tuner. Edwin Fobes is said to have been a pupil of Timothy Gilbert and an apprentice of C. C. Briggs, and began manufacturing in 1843 largely popular priced instruments. "In 1853 he patented an improved vertical or upright piano of a peculiar kind. A full metal plate reached to the extreme top of the case over which the strings stretched. Meanwhile the wrest pins were driven down into the top of the case perpendicularly. The strings rested on rollers and in tuning the angle was therefore avoided." 8 one of two readings
12Sometime before 1836 Davis & Fobes became partners and remained so into 1838. After that Fobes' name was listed only as a tuner.7 Edwin Fobes is said to have been a pupil of Timothy Gilbert8 and an apprentice of C. C. Briggs,9 and began manufacturing in 1843 largely popular priced instruments. "In 1853 he patented an improved vertical or upright piano of a peculiar kind. A full metal plate reached to the extreme top of the case over which the strings stretched. Meanwhile the wrest pins were driven down into the top of the case perpendicularly. The strings rested on rollers and in tuning the angle was therefore avoided."8 one of two readings
141850—[address hidden]
151870—[address hidden]
161880—[address hidden]
171890—[address hidden]
19W. P. EMERSON
21This firm was established in 1849 by William P. Emerson who was a good business man and soon developed a large trade.
23"The first improvements of distinct value were introduced from this date (1854) forward by Mr. C. C. Briggs, who became in a large measure identified with the musical status of the Emerson Piano during his stay there." 10 one of two readings
24"The first improvements of distinct value were introduced from this date (1854) forward by Mr. C. C. Briggs, who became in a large measure identified with the musical status of the Emerson Piano during his stay there."10 one of two readings
26They made squares, plain-strung first, then overstrung, uprights, "cottage" pianofortes, and finally grands. Their squares were among the best made, "scale 13" being a wonderful small square yet inexpensive. Those built from 1875 to 1880 had seven octaves and the last squares seven and a third octaves.
28After Mr. Emerson's death, the company went to pieces and Ellenwood & Moore, who ran the company for the estate, sold out about 1890 to a new company consisting of Mr. P. H. Powers, Pres., Orin A. Kimball, and Joseph Grames. This new company failed after Mr. Powers' death and was sold about ten years ago to the United Piano Co. of Norwalk, Ohio.
301885—[address hidden]
311890—Albany cor. Wareham
321895—[address hidden]
33(Warerooms)
341900—Albany cor. Wareham
351915—Albany cor. Wareham
37EVERETT PIANO CO.
39This company, headed by Col. Moore, was started between 1883-1885 and discontinued business in 1918 or 1919. It made uprights.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.