Alpheus Babcock

Alpheus Babcock (* 1785 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, † 1842) was a piano and music instrument maker in Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the early 19th century.

Babcock became known when he received a patent for a one-piece full cast iron frame. He took advantage of this in order to resist the train of the strings in Table pianos. Babcock also invented several improvements to piano actions.

Life

Babcock was born into a family originating from the Netherlands. He worked before 1809 for the music instrument maker Benjamin Crehore ( 1828 ). He founded a workshop and a music store in Boston with his brother Lewis at address 44 ½ Newbury Street.

In 1812 they began a partnership with the organ builder Thomas Appleton ( 1785-1872 ) and operated a workshop in the No.6 Milk Street. After the death of Lewis in 1814, the brothers Babcock began a short-lived partnership with the brothers Charles and Elna Hayt. This business was acquired by Mackay & Co., with Crehores 's former partner, the organ builder William Goodrich ( 1834 ) as one of the partners, and in 1817 reorganized as The Franklin Music Warehouse with Joshua Stevens as a director, continues at the address Milk Street. The business was then until 1823 under the direction of John Rowe Parker.

Babcock could have been working at this time in Philadelphia, but in 1822 he worked in the back building # 11 Marlboro Street, Boston, and moved the following year to return to Parkman 's Market, Cambridge Street. The Mackays put a collaboration with Babcock continued into the 1820s; many instruments were developed during these years, bearing the inscription "for DG Mackay " or " for R. Mackay ".

Babcock received at the exhibitions in 1824 and 1825 of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia each a silver medal in 1827 as well, this time with a special mention of his square piano in 1825 with the patented one-piece cast iron frame.

1830 Babcock moved to Philadelphia. He was at that time the largest piano maker in the United States. He led the crossing of the strings in a square piano and also dealt with the durable casing the leather-covered hammers to date with materials and felt.

Babcock worked at that time with the instrument maker and music seller John C. clamp together, his former agent, and he worked until the late 1832 as a foreman for the piano maker William Swift in the music store in the 142 Chestnut Street. He advertised in 1833 in The Daily Chronicle; you could see drawn iron frame, for which he claimed the sole right to manufacture. Babcock won honors at the 1833er exhibition of the Franklin Institute, along with CFL Albrecht of Philadelphia, and New York piano maker Nunn & Co.

Babcock went back to Boston in 1837 and was set at Chickering & Mackays, who had an existing partnership since 1830. Babcock's improvements helped Chickering, to become the leading piano makers in the States, which until the 1850s stock had - until the new Steinway & Sons had a rapid rise and Chickering overtook the end of the 1860s.