Firth, Pond & Co.
Place of business: New York , New York .
Dates of business: 1856-1862. (at this address)
Addresses of business:1856-1862 547 Broadway*
Note:
From 1856-60 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 NewYork. 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.”Other examples of Firth, Pond & Co. fifes can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts, and well as many private collections.
Features:
Length of Instrument -the fife is 15 3/8 inch.
Wood -the instrument is made of, what seems to be, Rosewood.
Key of instrument -C stamped below the name.
Finger Holes -seem to be all of the same size.
The spacing on the holes is as follows:
1-2=.661
2-3=.659
3-4=.746
4-5=.684
5-6=.659
This shows that the hole pattern is not even.
Swell -the swell on this instrument comes at the embouchure hole.
Ferrules - Ferrules are made of brass, scored with
the following:
Top ferrule has2+1+2 scoring.
Bottom ferrule is 2+1+2 scoring. Both seem
to be made out ofseamless tubing, or I just cannot see the seam.
Also,
both ferrules have the punch marks to keep them in place.
Top ferrule is
1.257 inch in length; bottom is 1.558 inch, and both are tapered..