Frederick Riley

Place of business: New York, New York USA.

Dates of business: 1845-1851

*Note: Per Robert Eliason, list in the Directories: 1842/43-Music, 1844-50-Music, 1851-Instruments.

Addresses of business:
1842/43-29 Chatham
1844-50-297 ½ Broadway
1851-52 Ann.

Son of Edward Riley.

This fife is marked: F. Riley, 297 Broadway, N. York, which puts this in the 1844-1850 period. Using the mid-point of manufacture, (I use the mid-point when an instrument cannot be dated by style, serial number, address, etc…) circa 1848.

Features:
Length of Instrument-the fife is 17 ½ inches.

Wood-the instrument is made of, what seems to be, 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=.790
2-3=.798
3-4=.788
4-5=.812
5-6=.705.

This shows that the hole pattern is not even, and there is a large space between the 4rd and 5th holes, and a small space between the 5th and 6th

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

Ferrules- Ferrules are made of brass, scored with the following: Top ferrule has 2+1+2
scoring. Bottom ferrule is 2+1+2 scoring. Both are made out of brass seam stock
and are tapered. Also, both ferrules have the punch marks to keep them in
place. Top ferrule is 1.057 in length; bottom is the same.