Antique Pianos & Organs by Mason & Hamlin and Story & Clark
Emmos Hamlin, while working at the melodeon factory of Geo. A. Prince in Buffalo, made the important discovery of “voicing” organ reeds to imitate other instruments. He developed this discovery to perfection and in 1854 formed the Mason and Hamlin partnership which led to manufacture of the antique pianos. Hamlin was a painstaking, exact working mechanic, with considerable genius as an inventor. Henry Mason had the best musical traditions of Boston and was imbued with that artistic devotion to music, which is found in the almost flawless instruments produced by Mason and Hamlin. From 1881 the manufacture of antique pianos for Mason and Hamlin is an artistic instrument of the highest order. The invention of the resonator is used in all the grand pianos of Mason and Hamlin.
Among the pioneers of the music trade in the west, Hampton L. Story’s name stands foremost in the antique player pianos. He was born in 1835 in Vermont. He joined a piano maker, manufacturing the Story and Powers piano in 1862, which was probably the first piano factory in Vermont. His business prospered. In 1867, Jacob Estey offered him the Estey organs in the western states, left Vermont, and opened his company in Chicago. Camp soon became a partner. He retired from here, but with his son Edward H., and Melville Clark, founded Story and Clark to manufacture reed organs. The foreign trade flourished also. The organs of Melville Clark were of the highest order in quality and tone. He began making pianos in 1895 and maintained the same high standard. The demand for pianos increased rapidly. Melville Clark’s name will be remembered as one of the most prolific inventors. Clark produced his first 88 note cabinet player in January, 1901, called the “Apollo”, and his player grand player piano in 1904.
