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 310
Scan 310
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
24 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 284. See the scan on archive.org.
1SQUARE inscribed "MADE BY A. Babcock for R. Mackay Boston."
2In collection loaned permanently by the Pennsylvania Museum of Art to the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Penn.
3Case mahogany, legs slightly tapered, round with narrow sunken fluting. Compass 5 octaves and a 5th, FFF to c³. Has two pedals that may be moved out of position, and a wooden frame.
5*SQUARE inscribed "MADE BY A. Babcock for R. Mackay Boston," on a brass name plate. Probably made bet. 1820-29.
6At the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, Plymouth, Mass. Open week days 9-5 p.m.
7Case mahogany, Empire style? with brass inlay lines and 4 octagonal legs. Compass 5 and a 5th octaves, FFF to c³. Has 1 pedal. Tuning pins in wood bar across left rear, hitch pins and harp shaped bridge on wooden half frame. Gift of Mr. Theodore Steinway June 1, 1921.
9SQUARE inscribed "Made by A. Babcock for R. Mackay Boston" on a brass name plate.
10In The Belle Skinner Collection of Old Musical Instruments, Wistariahurst, Holyoke, Mass. Open Fridays 2:30-5:30 p.m. admission by ticket. Apply to office of the Skinner Company, Holyoke. Visitors limited to 6 or 8 at one time.
11Case branch mahogany with rosewood borders inlaid with brass. Name-board and side panels are rosewood inlaid with brass lines. Has 6 legs with brass casters and trimmed with brass at the top. At bottom of case are three drawers with brass handles. Has 2 pedals. Compass 6 octaves, FFF to f³. "The action is divided into two removable sections. On the right of the frame of the smaller section is written the name: L. Babcock, and within the case is the number 252. Width 5 ft. 7 1/2 in., depth 2 ft. 2 3/4 in., height 2 ft. 9 3/4 in." Case and action are in perfect condition, and the tone is well preserved.
12This pianoforte is a family heirloom and was first owned by Captain Joseph Allen of Northampton, Mass., the grandfather of Miss Skinner. Information from The Belle Skinner Collection of Old Musical Instruments, A Descriptive Catalogue Compiled Under the Direction of William Skinner p. 178.
13An illustration of this instrument is given by Plate No. 88 of the Catalogue.
15Other squares made by A. Babcock in the U. S. National Museum, Hugo Worch Collection of Keyboard Instruments, Washington, D. C.
16Pianofortes made in Boston all with wooden frames:
17Cat. No. 315,719 (Orig. No. 317) in 1824.
18Cat. No. 315,720 (Orig. No. 295) in 1828.
19Cat. No. 314,526 in 1829.
21Pianofortes made in Philadelphia containing his skeleton iron plate patented Dec. 17, 1825 while in Boston with the Mackays.
22Cat. No. 291,106 made at Klemm's Piano Factory, Philadelphia, about 1834.
23Cat. No. 315,690 made at William Swift's pianoforte factory, Philadelphia, about 1835. The museum label states—"This is a creditable example of Babcock's superior skill. It contains the iron frame patented by him in 1825, and well illustrates the advantageous use of iron to resist the tension of the strings, which are all intact, and to prevent the twisting or warping of the woodwork."
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.