Firth, Pond & Co.

Place of business: New York , New York .

Dates of business: 1847/48-1863.

Addresses of business:

1847/48-1855 1 Franklyn Sq.

1856-1862 547 Broadway*

Note: from 1847/48 listed as “Mus. Instr. Mfr.”, from 1861-1862, listed as Pianos.

This is a good example of a Civil War era instrument.

As per Robert Eliason, in his work on American Musical Instrument Makers.

“Firth came to the United States about 1810 and learned to make flutes and fifes in the shop of Edward Riley. Firth and William Hall were in Military Service together and both married daughters of Edward Riley. In 1834 Firth & Hall bought into the woodworking firm of Asa Hopkins and Jabez Camp, and in 1845 acquired the entire operation. Firth and various partners were important publishers, manufacturers and dealer in all kinds of musical merchandise. In 1842 Firth & Hall entered a valved post horn, a trombone, two Kent bugles, six flutes and a flute book in the annual fair of the American Institute of the City of New York . They were awarded a diploma for the best specimen of flutes. In 1843 they again received a diploma for the best valve trombone and bugle.”

Features:

Marking: Firth Pond & Co./C.W. Anderson/18 th Regt Conn Vol.*

*Charles W. Anderson enlisted on 08/07/1862 as a private. On 12/31/1862 was detailed as a musician.

Date of Fife : 1863

Length of Instrument -16 ¾ inch.

Wood -the instrument is made of nickel silver.

Key of instrument -Bb.

Finger Holes -seem to be all of the same size.

The spacing on the holes is as follows:

1-2=.783
2-3=.791
3-4=.926
4-5=.713
5-6=.736

Swell -the swell is at the embouchure hole.

Ferrules - None.