Guide to the John R. Anderson Piano Trade Literature and Ephemera NMAH Staff 2011 Archives Center, National Museum of American History P.O. Box 37012 Suite 1100, MRC 601 Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 archivescenter@si.edu http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives
Table of Contents Overview... 1 Administrative Information... 1 Arrangement... 2 Scope and Contents... 2 Biographical / Historical... 1 Names and Subjects... 2 Container Listing... 4 Series 1: Piano Trade Literature, 1850-1880... 4 Series 2: Photographs... 6 Series 3: Anderson's Research... 7 Series 4: Printed Materials... 9 Series 5: Oversized Materials... 10
Overview Repository: Title: Identifier: Archives Center, National Museum of American History Date: circa 1850-1990 Extent: 4.8 cubic feet (6 boxes) Creator: Anderson, John R. Language: English is in English. Administrative Information Acquisition Information The collection was donated by John R. Anderson in 2011. Processing Information is unprocessed. Preferred Citation, ca. 1850-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Restrictions The collection is open for research. Conditions Governing Use Reproduction restricted due to copyright or trademark. Biographical / Historical A retired government employee, Anderson is a piano enthusiast and collector. He conducted extensive research on early piano makers. Page 1 of 10
Scope and Contents A collection of archival materials on the history of the piano, including: print advertisements for piano makers; sales brochures and catalogs for various piano makers; part and supply catalogs; price lists; trade cards; postcards; trade publications; owners' manuals; tuning guides and magazines; instruction books; photographs; an account book for a musical instrument dealer in Buffalo, New York; Anderson's research on organ and piano makers, especially 18th century New York City piano makers. Also included are a few advertisements for harpischord and organ makers. Most of the materials relate to American makers, but some European and Asian makers are represented in the collection. Makers most promiently represented in the collection are Steinway and Sons, Sohmer, Mason and Hamlin, Knabe, Weber, and Broadwood. Arrangement The collection is divided into five series Series 1: Piano Trade Literature Series 2: Photographs Series 3: Anderson's Research Series 4: Printed Materials Series 5: Oversized Materials Names and Subject Terms This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Smithsonian Institution under the following terms: Subjects: Harpsichord Harpsichord makers Musical instrument makers Musical instruments Organ (Musical instrument) Piano -- History Piano makers Types of Materials: Advertisements Advertising cards Brochures Ephemera Ledgers (account books) Manuals Notes Pamphlets Photographs -- 20th century Page 2 of 10
Postcards Price lists Research Trade cards Trade catalogs Names: John Broadwood and Sons Limited Mason & Hamlin Sohmer & Company Steinway & Sons Weber Piano Company Wm. Knabe & Co. Page 3 of 10
Series 1: Piano Trade Literature Container Listing Series 1: Piano Trade Literature, 1850-1880 Box 1, Folder 1 Original Piano Advertisements Box 1, Folder 2 Original Piano Adverstisements, 1854-1897 Box 1, Folder 3 Original Piano Advertisements Box 1, Folder 4 Original Piano Advertisements, 1854-1897 Box 1, Folder 5 Piano Sales Brochures/Catalogs, (Volume 1), 1880-1925 Box 1, Drawer 6 Piano Sales Brochures/Catalogs, (Volume 2), 1880-1925 Box 1, Folder 7 Piano Sales Brochures/Catalogs, (Volume 3), 1880-1925 Box 1, Folder 8 Piano Sales Brochures/Catalogs, (Volume 4), 1880-1925 Box 1, Folder 9 Piano Sales Brochures/Catalogs, (Volume 5), 1880-1925 Box 1, Folder 10 Piano Sales Brochures/Catalogs, (Volume 6), 1880-1925 Box 2, Folder 1 Piano Sales Brochures, 1980-1990 Box 2, Folder 2 Piano Sales Brochures, 1980-1990 Box 2, Folder 3 Box 2, Folder 4 Box 2, Folder 5 Box 2, Folder 6 Box 2, Folder 7 Sohmer Trade Literature Yamaha Trade Literature Mason & Hamlin Trade Literature Kimball Trade Literature Weber Trade Literature Box 8, Folder 2 Piano Sales Brochures from European Piano Manufacturers, 1970-1976 Box 2, Folder 9 Piano Sales Brochures from European Piano Manufacturers, 1970-1976 Box 2, Folder 10 Box 2, Folder 11 Box 2, Folder 12 Box 2, Folder 13 Piano Sales Brochures, U.S., French and German Piano Sales Brochures, U.S., French and German, continued Piano Sales Brochures from Asian and U.S. Piano Manufacturers Piano Sales Brochures from Asian and U.S. Piano Manufacturers Page 4 of 10
Series 1: Piano Trade Literature Box 2, Folder 14 Box 2, Folder 15 Box 3, Folder 1 Box 3, Folder 2 Box 3, Folder 3 Steinway Piano Price Lists (Monthly dealer prices) Piano Trade Cards Piano Trade Cards and Postcards (from album) Piano Trade Cards and Postcards (from album) Piano Ephemera Return to Table of Contents Page 5 of 10
Series 2: Photographs Series 2: Photographs Box 3, Folder 4 Box 3, Folder 5 Piano photographs, unknown origins Photographs of Piano Makers Return to Table of Contents Page 6 of 10
Series 3: Anderson's Research Series 3: Anderson's Research Research on early piano makers, especially in New York City. Box 3, Folder 6 Box 3, Folder 7 Box 3, Folder 8 Box 3, Folder 9 Box 3, Folder 10 Box 3, Folder 11 Box 3, Folder 12 Box 3, Folder 13 Box 3, Folder 14 Box 3, Folder 15 Box 3, Folder 16 Box 3, Folder 17 Box 3, Folder 18 Box 3, Folder 19 New York City newspaper: advertisements, etc. New York City newspapers: advertisements, etc. Dodds and Claus Fleming, Joseph Adam, Piano maker Gilfert, George, Piano dealer Geib & Co. Harrison, James, Piano dealer Hewitt, James, Music teacher Rivington, James, Music dealer Van Hagen, Teacher, Performer Watts, Charles, Piano maker Western, Thomas, Piano maker Astor, Jacob, Piano dealer Carr, Benjamin, Piano dealer Box 3, Folder 20 Maps, New York City, (photocopies), 1767-1800 Box 3, Folder 21 Box 3, Drawer 22 Box 3, Folder 22 Box 3, Folder 23 Box 3, Folder 24 Box 3, Folder 25 Whaites, Archibald, Charters, John; Musical instrument makers Piano ads, New York City, 1850s Piano scale making Dolge, Alfred Siegling Music House, Charleston, South Carolina Piano making, - notes Box 3, Folder 26 New York City newspapers, piano advertising, transcribed, 1775-1779 Box 3, Folder 27 Box 3, Folder 28 Anderson's research files on Steinway pianos Research on Pratt-Read Page 7 of 10
Series 3: Anderson's Research Box 3, Folder 29 Ledger book for a music store in Buffalo, New York, 1876-1880 Box 4, Folder 1 Research on New York City piano makers, 1846-1903 Box 4, Folder 2 Research on Broadwood Pianos, 1972 - Box 4, Folder 3 Research on Knabe Pianos Return to Table of Contents Page 8 of 10
Series 4: Printed Materials Series 4: Printed Materials Box 4, Folder 4 Box 4, Folder 5 Old piano advertisements purchased by Mr. Anderson John M. Smyth, Chicago, piano and organ catalog Box 4, Folder 6 "An Owners Manual: Pianos in Practice", 1978 Box 4, Folder 7 Fletcher and Newman, London, piano parts catalog Box 4, Folder 8 Tuner's Guide, 1852 Box 4, Folder 9 "The Tuner's Magazine", 1914 Box 4, Folder 10 Box 4, Folder 11 American Felt Company, Catalogue of Piano and Organ Supplies (2 copies) The Piano-Forte Primer Box 4, Folder 12 Portraits of Musical Celebrities, 1926 Box 4, Folder 13 Purchaser's Guide to the Music Industry (2 copies), 1934-1940 Box 4, Folder 14 Schaff Piano and Organ Supply Catalog, 1964 Box 4, Folder 15 Box 4, Folder 16 Box 4, Folder 17 Harpsichord advertising Miscellaneous printed materials on organs Miscellaneous printed materials on organs Box 4, Folder 18 Philadelphia Orchestra program, 1937 Box 4, Folder 19 Miscellaneous printed material Return to Table of Contents Page 9 of 10
Series 5: Oversized Materials Series 5: Oversized Materials Box 5, Item 1 Sohmer advertisement, 1980 Box 5, Item 2 Printed images of Theodor Steinway Box 5, Item 3 The Musical Critic Trade Review, 1882 Box 5, Item 4 The Choicest Compositions of Charles and Jacob Kunkel, 1888 Box 5, Item 5 Kunkel's Musical Review, 1901 Box 5, Item 6 Box 5, Item 7 Box 5, Item 8 Box 5, Item 9 Box 5, Item 10 Box 5, Item 11 Box 5, Item 12 Advertisement, George Steck & Co.'s and Haimes Bros.' Pianos Advertisement, George Steck & Co.'s and Haimes Bros.' Cabinet Organs Advertisement: Union Manufacturing Company Agraffe Bridge Pianos Advertisement: Albrecht, Riekes and Schmidt, Manufacturers of First Class Piano-fortes Scrapbook of piano related printed materials Wurlitzer advertisement Wurlitzer advertisement Box 5, Item 13 The Musical Critic and Trade Review, 1880 Box 5, Item 14 Printed image of two people performing on stage, one playing a Steinway piano, entitled "Patti accompanied by the Boy Wonder" Box 6, Item 1 Book of Complete Information about Pianos, Wing and Son,, 1903 Box 6, Item 2 Book of Complete Information about Pianos, Wing and Son, 1911 Box 6, Item 3 Freund's Music and Drama, 1889 Box 6, Object 4; Box 6, Item 4 Box 6, Item 5 Knabe: The Piano Beautiful, 1923 Advertisment: Albrecht, Piekes & Schmidt, FIrst Class Piano-fortes Return to Table of Contents Page 10 of 10