Presto

PRESTO
fied with many pioneer enterprises. Some of the
Vose families, as a venture, migrated to points far-
ther away from the coast, but as a rule they remained
close to Milton and Boston. Many Vose descendants
live today on ancestral estates in that vicinity.
The new Vose factory is conveniently located in
Greater Boston on the New York and Boston Post
Boulevard next to the United States Government
buildings at the entrance of Watertown. This factory
VOS.E OF EARLY DAYS AND VOSE OF
TODAY.
Robert Vose, born 1599, settled in Milton in 1654,
the youngest son of Thomas Vose. Then followed
Edward Vose, 1636; Nathaniel Vose, 1672; Nathaniel
Vose, Jr., 1699; Oliver Vose, 1734; John Vose, 1756;
Whiting Vose, 1789; James Whiting Vose, 1818;
Willard Atherton Vose, 1851; George Atherton Vose,
1876; Atherton Cushing Vose, 1911.
Two direct descendants of Robert Vose, the pioneer
(1654), were Lewis Vose and Whiting Vose, both of
October 6, 1923
factory where Vose pianos are made for the enjoy-
ment of people of refinement and culture.
Letter from Jas. W. Vose.
As a suitable addition to the foregoing, Presto also
presents the following letter which was written to a
member of the editorial staff of Presto by the late
James W. Vose not long before that gentleman's
death. It tells of the taking of the photograph of the
Crehore workshop and home, to which reference is
made and a picture of which appears with this article.
The letter, of which the original is in the files of
Presto, shows that the picture was taken by Mr.
Vose himself. It was suggested by mention in a New
York paper of a book which was at the time in prep-
aration.
Dear Sir:
I have received your prospectus of new book on
the piano. If you are coming to this city soon I
should be pleased to see you.
About a year ago I went to the trouble and ex-
pense of photographing the old building in Milton
where the first piano was made in America. Milton
is a show place among New England's busy plants,
and a monument to the founder, James W. Vose.
As the early settlers and musical people were
welcomed by Mr. Crehore in those days, so today
there awaits a traditional and hearty welcome from
the Vose & Sons Piano Co. Every courtesy is ex-
tended to visitors who are taken through the entire
whom were actively engaged in the business life of
Milton in the latter part of the 18th Century.
James Whiting Vose was the son of Whiting Vose,
a religious and thrifty pioneer who lived in Milton.
James Whiting Vose showed a tendency to the
artistic and was first apprenticed to learn expert
cabinet making.
After acquiring proficiency in that art, Mr. Vose
began to study the interior of the piano, giving spe-
cial attention to action and key making. His ability
to do everything just a little better gave him a repu-
tation for fine workmanship, which encouraged him
to start the building of pianos.
With a ripe experience in both fine cabinet work,
key and action building, he started to manufacture
Vose pianos in 1851, the beginning of the enviable
reputation for the name Vose of today.
The splendid factory in greater Boston, and over
90,000 Vose pianos in use, are tributes to the worthy
ambition of the founder of the Vose & Sons Piano
Co., James W. Vose.
Today, the second and third generations, Willard
Atherton and George Atherton, son and grandson of
James Whiting Vose, are actively engaged in devel-
oping the piano to its present high standard.
DANIEL CREHORE'S SHOP AND HOME, WHERE
FIRST PIANO WAS MADE.
being ray native place, I felt more interest in it than
1 otherwise would, and had made arrangements to
have the cut engraved and published in The Art
Journal. About that time I gave Mr. George Chicker-
mg a photograph, as I supposed he would be pleased
to have one, and informed him that I was about to
make it known to the trade, etc., with a history, in
Art Journal. I was much surprised to see, in your
paper the cut reproduced. Of course "my cake was
dough"—there was nothing more for one to do, as it
would be only second hand, and I have done nothing
since. If you use this in your book I hope you will
get up a better cut. If you wish for a photograph I
will be pleased to furnish you with one.
Yours Truly,
VOSE & SONS,
Per James W. Vose.
The commemoration of the latest forward step in
the career of the fine old Boston piano industry is
a matter well worth all the space given to it here,
and what is said will be read with interest by every
member of the music trade.
Ernest J. Lavagnino has succeeded the Oakdale
Music Store in business in Oakdale, Cal.
THE LOADER A GREAT HELP TO SALESMEN
'"Normalcy" in the piano business will return when prices are reduced, when we have good crops or prospects of good crops, and
when Salesmen, (The men who actually sell the piano to the user), get to work.
The Bowen Loader will greatly aid any energetic salesman. For Country work there's nothing like it,—for City work it's a help.
$110.00 for the Loader complete, including springs and cover.
Shipped on approval to responsible dealers.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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