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YEAR
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COMMENTARY
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1839
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- J.W. York is born in Exeter, New Hampshire (MK)
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1882
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- James York formed business with brother (S4)
- Company founded by J.W. York (S27)
- "Makers of good band instruments since 1882." (29)
- "In 1882...., J. W. York, a former army musician who was playing in the Grand Rapids theaters, decided to go into business for himself (45)
- "...set up his business on the ground floor of the building in lower Monroe Avenue." (45)
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1883
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- York and Son established (S19)
- York enters a brief partnership with Smith (SW)
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1884
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- Company is known as J.W. York and Company (SW)
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1885
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- York began importing instruments (S7)
- York enters a brief partnership with Holton. (SW)
- York manufacturing a good cornet (MK)
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1886
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1887
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- Company renamed York and Son in recognition of his infant son, Charles E. (SW)
- Holton is a partner with York (3)
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1888
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1889
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1890
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- York joined with Tom Thomas to open an office to repair instruments (S24)
- "By 1890 York was operating a repair plant and making a few small instruments." (45)
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1891
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1892
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1893
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1894
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1895
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1896
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1897
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- Alfred J. "Bill" Johnson becomes company foreman (SW)
- Bill Johnson joins the company (MK)
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1898
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- Company renamed York and Sons in recogition of second son, Frank W. (SW)
- "New models were added until 1898 when the company was making a complete line of cup mouthpiece brass instruments." (45)
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1899
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1900
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- Sons Frank and Charles joined the business (S4)
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1901
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1902
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- Henry Martin Jr. and Sr. employed by York (1)
- Henry Martin Jr. is plant superintendent (1)
- Valve trombone is the latest product (1)
- Demand is taxing the capacity of the factory (2)
- Stringed instruments are newly added to the inventory (2)
- Booklets are being produced. (2)
- The York "Silent Salesman)(5)
- Attempt to burn the factory (4)
- York bugles are first produced about this time. (47)
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1903
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- Company will move into the Raniville Building at the corner of Campau and Lyon. Present quarters are on Ionia Street (6)
- Large increase in the company's business (6)
- 60 people are now employed (6)
- Debut of Professional Model Cornet (7)
- Company to secure larger quarters. Site for new factory purchased on South Division Street (8)
- Company moves into new quarters in November (9)
- "York's Musical Herald is issued (10)
- There is a heavy demand for the Professional model cornet (10)
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1904
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- George W. Jackson is now employed by York (12)
- The York factories are located at #2-20 Lyon Street (12)
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1905
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- York reopens the old factory on Ionia as the case and drum department (13)
- 7000 square feet are added to the factory, which is devoted to brass and silverplated instruments (14)
- York now employs 100 people (14)
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1906
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- York firm is incorporated. (46)
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1907
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- York and other manufacturers are experiencing continued growth and prosperity (17)
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1908
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- York produces 300 instruments per month. There are 130 workers. (S22)
- "In 1908, the present plant at 1600 South Division Avenue was built." (45)
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1909
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1910
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1911
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1912
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- 1912 was largest volume year in the 30-year history of the company, but 1913 will be larger. (18)
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1913
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- Business sold to James and John Duffy (S24)
- Advertisement in Metronome indicating that York has produced better than 50,000 instruments in 30 years. (S26)
- York sons Frank and Charles phase out the business (SW)
- Bill Johnson, along with James and John Duffy formed a stockholding company (SW)
- March 1913 "...we have builded better than 57,000 of them." (18)
- May, 1913 "...some 60,000 musicians own York instruments." (19)
- Announcement of the Al-Tru cornet (20)
- "In 1913 a stock company was formed." (45)
- York family interests were sold to James and John Duffy (46)
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1914
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1915
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1916
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1917
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- J.W. York retires and moves to California (SW)
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1918
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- York made valve trombone in late teens (S9)
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1919
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1920
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1921
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1922
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1923
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1924
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1925
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1926
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- Company name changed to York Band Instrument Company (S24)
- York family relinquishes all interest in the company (SW)
- August: Signature is listed as York Band Instrument Company in advertisements. "Makers of good band instruments since 1882." (29)
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1927
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- James Duffy is listed as president on the articles of association (S25)
- J.W. York dies on February 9th in Los Angeles. (SW)
- Signature on the catalogue booklet is York Band Instrument Company (30)
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1928
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- York and Sons signature is used until this year. (S30)
- Catalog #40. Almost all instruments are listed as available in low pitch only. (31)
- Company address is shown as MU-28 Division Avenue (32)
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1929
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