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L. Wulsin Honored by Newcomen Society
Tells How D. H. Baldwin Founded Company
Lucien Wulsin, President of the
in the famous Pike Opera House, but
Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati. Ohio,
it was burned to the ground in March.
was signally honored recently when he
1866. In a newspaper account of this
was chosen by the Newcomen Society fire, it was staled: "In the second story
in North America to deliver an address
on the life and work of Dwight Hamil-
ton Baldwin and the history of the
Baldwin Company at the 1953 dinner
of the society which was held at the
Queen City Club, Cincinnati. Ohio on
April 16th, 1953.
In Book Form
Now published in book form under
the title of "Dwight Hamilton Baldwin.
1821-1899, and the Baldwin Piano, by
Lucien Wulsin", the booklet is high-
lighted by many unique woodcuts and
the text which follows the portrait of
Dwight Hamilton Baldwin, made from
the oil painting which hangs in the
Directors Room of the company in Cin-
cinnati, gives a most complete and
vivid history of the founder, which na-
turally is a part of the early history of
the Baldwin Company.
Mr. Wulsin was introduced at the
banquet by John J. Emery. President
of the Emery Industries. Inc.. who is
also President of the Cincinnati Art
Museum and member of the Cincinnati
Committee in the Newcomen Society in
North America.
In his address, which is now in book
form, Mr. Wulsin traces the founding
of the Baldwin Company from the"
birth of Dwight Hamilton Baldwin in
Northeast Erie County, Pennsylvania.
September 15th, 1821. where the fam-
ily had come from Connecticut. It
seems his ambition was to become a
minister, but his constitution was not
considered strong enough for circuit
riding and he turned to music. He
taught music in Kentucky.
LUCIEN WULSIN
of this building was the piano room of
D. H. Baldwin. The stock on hand con-
sisted of 22 pianos, only one of which
was saved. Mr. Baldwin can at present
give no idea of his loss." It was in
1871 that he moved to the building
where the Baldwin store is now lo-
cated.
further states that Mr. Baldwin always
was home by Saturday night.
In 1877 the firm opened a retail
store in Louisville and in 1878 one in
Indianapolis. The firm was sales agent
for the pianos of Steinway & Sons,
Decker Bros., James C. Fischer, Haines
Bros, and the Vose and Estey organs.
It was in 1884 that a new partner-
ship agreement was signed, including
in addition to D. H. Baldwin and Lu-
cien Wulsin. Albert A. Van Buren,
George W. Armstrong. Jr. and Clarence
Wulsin.
Made Reed Organs
In 1889 the company started manu-
facturing a reed organ. At that time
ihe Hamilton Organ Co. was formed in
Chicago. In 1890 the firm decided to
make pianos, and in honor of Mr.
Baldwin the new piano was named the
"Baldwin"'. The Baldwin Piano Co.
was incorporated, again the five part-
ners taking all the capital stock
amounting to $50,000. Lucien Wulsin
was directing head of the manufactur-
ing business. It was then that John
Warren Macy. who had been studying
physics and acoustics, drew the first
scale for the new Baldwin piano. The
first Baldwin piano, an upright shipped
from the Cincinnati store on February
26, 1891. Mr. Macy then perfected a
scale for a grand piano and the com-
pany made wholesale arrangements any-
where in the country.
Small Factory at First
The Baldwin Piano Co. commenced
making Baldwin pianos in a small 3-
story brick planing mill on Gilbert
Avenue opposite the entrance to Eden
Park where the Baldwin factory is now
located. According to the story, how-
ever, it was not long before the part-
ners realized that they would have to
make a moderately priced upright pi-
ano to supply the needs of a large
number of purchasers with moderate
Established Dealers
incomes. In order to do this, they
Music Teacher in Schools
It then points out that "Messrs.
opened a third factory. As Mr. Bald-
Baldwin and Wulsin early saw that the
It was in 1857 that he was found as
win's middle name "Hamilton" was used
creation of local aid to the dealers in
a music teacher in the public schools
on organs which were being sold in
the country towns surrounding trading
in Cincinnati. When 41 years of age
increasing numbers, he suggested the
centers like Cincinnati greatly increas-
in 1862 he decided to leave the teach-
name of ""Ellington", for the low-priced
ed sales. They followed the plan of
ing profession and started selling pi-
piano, a farnily of that n.im p having
consigning merchandise to these deal-
anos.
been great friends of his in Kentucky.
ers,
as
successfully
pioneered
by
the
Accordingly, in 1893 the Ellington Pi-
It is interesting to note from his his-
sewing machine industry.
ano Co. was formed.
tory that Mr. Baldwin published his
It was in 1898 that a Chicago retail
It was about this time that the story
first advertisement as a dealer in pi-
salesroom was opened, and by this year
was told that Mr. Baldwin used to rent
anos and organs in the Cincinnati
the business which started in 1863 with
a spring wagon with a team of horses,
Daily Gazette of July 1st. 1865. off-
loaded with six reed organs, and set $2,000 showed a total capital of $537.-
ering Chickering pianos for sale. He
000 plus over $100,000 withdrawn by
out from the Cincinnati store on Mon-
was listed as "D. H. Baldwin. Dealer
the partners to organize the three fac-
day morning not to return until all
in pianos, melodians and the celebrated
tories of the Baldwin Piano Co.. the
the organs had been sold. The story
Boudoir organ." He occupied a store
Quoting from the address, the first
document of early Baldwin history is
the copy of "Articles of Partnership
dated June 2nd, 1873, between D. H.
Baldwin and Lucien Wulsin. both of
this city, for the purpose of transact-
ing business as dealers in pianos, or-
gans, melodians uuder the firm of D. H.
Baldwin & Co."
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1953