Summary of Research

Regarding J.W. York and Sons York Band Instrument Company Grand Rapids Band Instrument Company USA Line

From the York Archives:

• Father and son Henry martin were employed by J.W. York and Son. Martin Sr. is 67. The Martin factory in Chicago was destroyed in the great Chicago fire. Henry Martin, Jr. is superintendent of the York factory. The latest product is the York valve trombone, which is made to resemble the slide trombone.

• Demand is taxing the capacity of the factory. Stringed instruments are newly added. York and Sons are getting out booklets.

• Holton was a partner in the manufacturing business in Grand Rapids with York fifteen years ago. (1886)

• York received new proofs of a 22 page catalog, called "York's Silent Salesman." Dimensions are 10x12.5, enameled paper with 45 cuts (plates). Page 1 shows the York solo alto horn. The York valve trombone is also seen. Page 12 shows the Monster Eb Bass. Page 13 shows the York BBb bass. Page 14 shows the York BBb helicon.

• J.W. York will move into the Raniville building at the corner of Campau and Lyon. Will occupy 11,000 square feet on the second floor. There has been a large increase in the company's business. The present quarters are Numbers 3,5 and 7 North Ionia Street. Sixty people are now employed.

• The debut of the York "Professional" model cornet (shepherd's crook). It is fitted with a quick change device to change from Bb to A. It comes with a low pitch slide and 1st and 3rd low pitch valve slides.

• Yorks are pioneers in the band instrument manufacturing business in Grand Rapids, having started the industry 20 years ago (1883). For the first six years, the firm had small quarters on Canal Street. For the last sixteen years they have been on North Ionia. Some time ago they purchased a site for a factory on South Division Street. They were going to build in the summer of 1903, but conditions were not favorable.

• The move into the new factory has been delayed because orders are so large, even with everyone working overtime. They can't keep up with production demands.

• York is now fully established in the new factory. There is a heavy demand for the professional cornet. The "Musical Herald", York's monthy paper, has just been issued (presumably for the first time?)

• George Jackson is now employed by York. The factories are located at Numbers 2-20 Lyon Street.

• York had to reoccupy the old factory on Ionia as the case and drum department.

• The House of York spreads out, adding 7000 feet (to 21,000) to the factory. The factory is devoted exclusively to brass and silverplate band instruments. "From humble beginnnings 30 years ago (1875?) York now employs 100 people.

• In number 10 of York's Musical Herald, "Frank and Charles, my two sons, have grown up in the business for 25 years and have strained to make it a success." Through the days when they were battling against business depression and money panics. . . . . . (Evidently Charles was hands on and Frank was the business end.

• The York "Monster" Eb bass.

• The American manufacturers of band instruments are experiencing an era of unexampled (?) prosperity. "The growth of their business (York) has been steady and remarkable."

• "1912 was the largest of our 30 years (1882?) of band instrument manufacturing, but 1913 will be larger." "In just a trifle over 30 years, we have builded better than 57,000 of them."

• "Some 60,000 musicians own York Insruments."

• Another announcement for the Al-Tru cornet. "An instrument representing our more than 30 years experience."

• Advertises catalog #4 - the Drum catalog.

• The Al-Tr cornet is advertised. It has a unique slide stop mechanism. There is a new valve system in which the 3rd valve controls two slides--A or Bb. Top of the ad says "Made by York" and the bottom of the ad says "J.W. York and Sons."

• An advertisement for the Drummer's book. Instructions are to ask for book E.

• Advertising the Al-Tru cornet with a purchase price of $65

• Instruments are listed to try by mail. The following instruments are listed: C, Bb and A cornets, Metropolitan trumpet, Band and Orchestra horn in F, Eb, and D, slide trombone, valve trombone, snare drum, Eb tenor--upright, euphonium, double belled euphonium, Eb bass--small size, Eb monster bass, BBb bass--small size, monster BBb bass, helicon BBb bass, saxophone.

• The company is still listed as J.W. York and Sons in this advertisement.

• Signature is listed as the York Band Instrument Company. "Makers of good band instruments since 1882."

• This also shows the York Band Instrument Company as the signature. 3rd edition. Advertises a fleugel horn and a mellophone, called a Band and Orchestra horn. The engraviing on the photograph of the tuba bell still appears to read J. W. York and Sons.

• This is catalog #40. The engravings on bells all say Made by J.W. York and Sons, Grand Rapids, Mi. Almost all the listings note that instruments are supplied in low pitch only. Tubas in particular still have high pitch and low pitch in combination only. None of the instruments are listed by name, only by model number.

• The address is shown as MU-28 Division Avenue

• This catalog is almost an exact duplicate of the 1929 catalog except that all instruments in the catalog are shown as low pitch only.

• "In 1882...., J. W. York, a former army musician who was playing in the Grand Rapids theaters, decided to go into business for himself. The founder was then past 40when he set up his business on the ground floor of the building in lower Monroe Avenue, where Heyman's store now stands." By 1890 York was operating a repair plant and making a few small instruments. (cornets and trombones). New models were added until 1898 when the company was making a complete line of cup mouthpiece brass instruments. The original factory was in Ionia Avenue. Later it was moved to the Raniville Power building. In 1908, the present plant at 1600 South Division Avenue was built. For many years the company was owned solely by York and Sons. In 1913 a stock company was formed. The management in 1937 included: Karl B. Shrinkman, president and treasurer; Alfred J. Johnson, vice-president; L.E. Butler, secretary. J.E. Mead, assistant treasurer.

• The York company was purchased by Carl Fischer. There is a plan to double production and employment. Ninety persons are now employed. "The founder, J.W. York, first located on Monroe Avenue, later Ionia Avenue." The Division Avenue plant was built in 1908. The firm was incorporated in 1906. The name was changed to York Band Instrument Company in 1926. The York family interests were sold to James and John Duffy in 1913.

• USA Line instruments are advertised. Bugles were also advertised. "York bugles have been outstanding for 50 years."

• This shows shipment of a receiver for a Model 160 with the serial number 186549.

• This catalog shows anniversary model cornets and trumpets. Rotary valve tubas are also shown.

• This is a copy of the previous catalog, except less well done (more cheaply produced)

• The opening commentary "for over 75 years," is also used in earlier catalogs.

• This letter indicates that it would be far too time consuming to recreate a serial number list.

• This gives a brief history of York. Introduction states that Holton, Martin and Foster worked at the factory. By 1898 he had a full line of band instruments made in his own factory. States that the company has been in business for 90 years. The back of the catalog notes that it is a subsidiary of Fischer, and the address is given as 105 E. 16th Street, New York.

• Name change to York Musical Instrument Company, Incorporated (1973) Address is 55 Marcus Drive, Melville, New York 11764

Additional Research and Correspondence

S22. Grand Rapids Press, 19 December 1908:

York produces an average of 300 instruments per month. The market is the US and Canada. The company employs 130 people. Personnel include:

• Alfred Johnson - expert instrument maker
• Edward Gonrad - valve department
• Frank Simmer - bell maker
• William Fitzsimmons - plating James Miller - buffing and polishing

7 January 1941: Jonathon Mead is appointed Resident Agent, H. Meyers is President

21 March 1942: Pearl Vanstratt is appointed Resident Agent, Harry Meyers is President

22 July 1954: Alford Freeman is appointed Resident Agent, Alphonse Derleth is Assistnat Secretary

6 December 1964: Carl Schwartz is President, David Myers is Secretary; company is registered in the State of New York.

7 September 1971: rose Venza is appointed Agent for the company.

28 June 1972: Murray Morris is Secretary; location is changed from 1600 Division Street in Grand Rapids to 615 Griswold Street in Detroit.

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