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INFORMATION
The Geibs Were Early
Piano Makers
Mr. Carleton Chac e , Editor
Music Trade Review
510 R.K.O. Bldg.
New York City
Dear Mr. Chace:
I am looking for information on the
H & M Geib an old piano made per-
haps one or two hundred years or more
ago, at 25 Maiden Lane, the address
given on the piano. Piano No. 6189, and
want to know any history or informa-
tion about the old piano.
The fact is, I have one that is thor-
oughly restored, like new. It is very
old and tremendously interesting. It
has six legs beautifully carved and
scrolled. Piano is in almost perfect
condition, like new, and I am going to
exhibit it.
May I say that I certainly appreciate
the splendid work you are doing for
the music industry. Best wishes and
kind regards,
Faithfully yours,
Clark Music Co.
Melville Clark,
President.
The Geibs came from Germany and
40 years' experience
were first heard of in the United
States in 1802 as John Geib & Son.
organ builders at 55 Warren Street,
New York. There was also an Adam
Geib, a music teacher. In 1805 John
and Adam Geib are mentioned as piano
makers in Mount Vernon, N. Y., and
John Geib was the inventor of the
"grasshopper action" and the "buff
stop" for square pianos. He was the
father of John and Adam and listed
as one of the "12 apostles" who came
to England from Germany in 1760 and
founded the piano business there.
In 1807 John and Adam Geib were
located on Leonard Street near Broad-
way in New York. John Geib, Jr..
started in business in 1815 and in 1821
was at the Bowery near Bedford Street
while Adam Geib and William, another
of the former's nephews, located at 23
Maiden Lane where Geib and Walker
and subsequently William Geib carried
on alone for many years. William Geib
exhibited in the first exhibit held in
"Castle Garden" at the Battery in New
York and received "first premium for
a grand upright pianoforte."
Geib & Walker at 23 Maiden Lane
were William Geib and Daniel Walker
and were well known past 1830 as
piano manufacturers, music publishers
and importers of miscellaneous musical
instruments. They separated in 1841
and little was heard of the Geibs after-
ward, while Daniel Walker went into
business by himself at 411 Broadway.
T. Gilbert & Co. in Business
from 1829 to 1868
New Bedford, Mass.
Mr. Carleton Chace. Editor,
Music Trade Review,
New York, N. Y.
Dear Mr. Chace:
59 years next month, I tuned a Tim-
othy Gilbert square piano, which at
that time was 58 years old and worn
out—it disappeared about 2 years later.
I have just come in possession of its
exact duplicate so far as I can judge—
a T. Gilbert & Co. #1995—so I estimate
this to be about 117 years old. It is in
almost perfect condition, inside and
out, strings bright, tuning pins paint-
ed black and shine as does the plate—
pin block looks new. Not a sign of a
moth. All in good playing condition.
Outside — top of solid mahogany
with a 3" inlay of rosewood around
the edge. Varnish, beautiful polish,
and no checks. Most perfect workman-
ship. Do you suppose there is another
in existence as old and in such perfect
condition?
Who might know about Timothy
Gilbert and his output? I have seen
articles such as this in publication in
the past, but do not recall what ones.
Chickering started in 1823. This one
was built within a few years before
or after. Who might give me an esti-
mate of its value. This one was par-
ticularly interesting because of having
tuned its counterpart, so many years
ago. You may use any part of the
above, if you think it interesting
enough.
Very truly yours,
C. F. Spooner
Timothy Gilbert started making pi-
anos in Boston in 1829 and by 1840
T. Gilbert & Co. had become quite an
important factor in the piano business
and had many agencies all over the
country. They were granted many pat-
ents also. In 1848 they established an
agency in New York with Berry &
Waters and later Horace Waters took
the agency before he went into manu-
facturing himself. In 1849 Gilbert &
Co. produced an organ-piano according
to a design by Obea Coleman from
whom they purchased patents. It was
in 1868 that the Gilbert firm went out
of business.
in cooperating with
makers of fine pianos
to the end of
BETTER
. . .
TONE
STANDARD
Piano Hammer Co.
ROCKWELL SCHOOL OF TUNING
LICENSED UNDER THE PRIVATE TRADE SCHOOL LAW OF PENNSYLVANIA
A 26 WEEK COURSE IN TUNING, REPAIRING,
CASE WORK, RESURFACING AND VOICING
HAMMERS. ALL NECESSARY TOOLS AND TEXT
BOOKS USED DURING TRAINING PERIOD ARE
FURNISHED BY THE SCHOOL.
(Not inc.I
820 North Kedzie Ave.
CHICAGO 51, ILLINOIS
28
Write for Further Information
315 MARKET STREET
CLEARFIELD, PA.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MAY, 1946