Samuel Graves

Place of business: Winchester , NH

Dates of business: 1824-1869*

Addresses of business:

1824-1829-West Fairlee , VT
1830-1850-Winchester, NH
1851-1854-18 Harvard Pl , Boston
1855-1861-68 Albany
1864-1865-18 Harvard Pl (Gilmore, Graves & Co.)
1867-1874 71 Sudbury

* Per Langwill/1869 Samuel Graves, together with his sons, George M. and William, joined with E.G Wright, H. Esbach and Hartman to form the Boston Musical Instrument Manufactory; 1870 Samuel retired, disabled by a stroke. The Boston Company continued until 1919/22, when purchased by Cundy-Bettoney. According to Eliason, Graves was the earliest large scale woodwind manufacturer in America . ( Graves was also a maker of brass instruments.)

Features:

Date of Fife : 1830-1850

Length of Instrument -the fife is 17 3/8 inch.

Wood -the instrument is made of rosewood.

Key of instrument -Bb.

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

The spacing on the holes is as follows:

1-2=.854
2-3=.825
3-4=.788
4-5=.816
5-6=.801

Swell -the swell on this instrument comes right at the embouchure hole.

Ferrules - Ferrules are made of brass, scored with the following: Both seem to be made out of seamed nickel tubing. Top ferrule is 1 1/2 inch in length; bottom is the same and both are tapered. Both ferrules have 2+2 fine knurling.