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75 YEARS OR MORE
(Continued from Page 42)
was recently elected a Vice-President
of the company also.
J. P. Thornton is another Vice-Presi-
dent and A. J. Schoenberger is Vice-
President and Treasurer. R. F. Coghill
is Secretary.
WEAVER PIANO CO.
1870
84 years
TT was in 1870 that J. O. Weaver, a
-*• musician a n d teacher, established
the Weaver Piano Co. in York, Pa.
Previous to this, he had been selling
organs in York County, Pa. and began
League of York and for many years
has been interested in the York Sym-
phony Orchestra of 100 pieces, of
which he was once a director.
The company has always manufac-
tured grands and spinet pianos and
has made a feature of the "Verti-
Mignon" and the Weaver pianos arc
found in many institutions of learning
and schools throughout the country,
as well as in the homes of musicians.
The officials of the company at the
present time are Walter L. Bond. Presi-
dent and Treasurer; John A. Baer.
Vice-President and Secretary; D. J.
Meckley, Assistant Secretary; Richard
D. Gentzler, Assistant Treasurer. The
other directors of the company are
Urban S. Bond. F. G. Dempwolf and
C. D. Bond. Carl O. Strickler is Sales
Manager.
PRATT, READ & CO.
1789
765 years
i^OMPARED to ihe age of Pratt,
^ Read & Co.. I lie Music Trade
REVIEW is just a youngster. History
tells us that Phineas Pratt started
making ivory combs in 1798. With him
at that time were his three sons. Abel.
OTHER NAMES
over 75 years old
WALTER S. BOND
President, Weaver Piano Co.
manufacturing them himself after a
short period. In the early eighties,
M .B. Gibson became interested in the
sale of the Weaver organ throughout
Perry County, Pa. Later he became
mayor of York, Pa. and was a leader
of musical activities in York. He also
became President of the Weaver Piano
Co. and commenced to manufacture pi-
anos in 1900.
The company has been manufactur-
ing pianos in York continuously since
that time. After the death of Mr. Gib-
son, which occurred in 1918, the late
W. S. Bond became President, a posi-
tion which he held until the time of his
death. Associated with him in his early
days, as a church organist and a choir
leader for over twenty years, was his
son, Walter L. Bond, who at that time
was Secretary and Treasurer of the
company. Mr. Bond who at the present
time is the President of the Weaver
Piano Co. was head of the Music
44
SAMUEL M. COMSTOCK
Founder, Comstock, Cheney & Co.
Some of the names, over 75 years
old, which are being found on pianos
today which are being handled h\
some dealers throughout the country,
include Francis Bacon, first being man-
ufactured by Bacon & Raven and later
under the firm name of Raven & Bacon,
when Francis Bacon passed awav and
his son, George Bacon succeeded him.
In 1898 the Bacon Piano Co.. Inc. was
formed, of which W. P. H. Bacon, son
of Francis Bacon, was Vice-President.
He passed away in 1935. at which time
he was President of the company.
Phineas Jr. and Julius, and George
Read, his son-in-law. The town in
which Pratt, Read & Co. is now lo-
cated, Ivoryton, Conn., was named on
account of the activities of this ivory
business.
In 1809, George Read began using
water power to drive the machines
which he developed to cut the combs.
There were other important concerns,
one of which was started by Samuel
Meritt Comstock, who settled in the
community in 1984 and headed a firm
known as Comstock, Cheney & Co. His
Before this, the A. M. McPhail Pi-
original partner was George A. Cheney,
ano Co. was founded in Boston, the
who made many trips to the ivory mar-
Brambach Piano was founded in 1821.
kets
in Zanzibar.
Hazelton Bros, in 1840. the Kroeger
The
direct descendants of the foun-
Piano in 1852 and the Behning in 1861.
ders are George Cheney Seeley, now
The latter company, founded by
Vice-President of Pratt. Read & Co..
Henry Behning, was at one time Behn-
and Peter H. Comstock. another Vice-
ning & Klix, then Behning & Diehl un-
President. Their ancestors and their im-
til 1880 when the late Henry Behning. mediate families have been closely con-
Jr. joined his father and the firm be- nected with the running of the busi-
came Behning & Son. At that lime, two
ness throughout its existence.
other sons, Albert Behning and Gustave
In 1816. the factory was moved to
Behning, were also partners in the
Deep River and it was not until 1839
business. After the death of their
that th • company began cutting ivory
father, the three brothers conducted the
for piano keys.
business until Albert Behning withdrew
It was in 1863, through the amalga-
into the insurance business. Henry and
mation of several firms that were mak-
Gustave Behning ran the business, then
ing ivory articles, Pratt, Read & Co.
styled the Behning Piano Co.. until the
was formed and incorporated under the-
death of the former, after which the
laws of Connecticut. In 1837, Com-
company became affiliated with Kohler
stock. Cheney & Co. was merged with
& Campbell, Inc.. where Gustave Behn-
Pratt. Read & Co.
ing is at present a director of sales.
After a disastrous fire which visited
The other names above mentiond are
the plant July 31. 1881, it was the
also controlled by Kohler & Campbell.
Inc., New York.
(Turn to Pace 46)
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1954