(MUSIC.) Order book of the Loring & Blake Organ Company. 295 manuscript pages. Folio, original 1/2 calf, moderate wear; minor wear to contents. Worcester, MA, 1882-86
The Loring & Blake Organ Company was founded in Worcester, MA in 1868. Their instruments won numerous awards and they billed themselves as "best in the world." By 1882, they had a second factory in Toledo, OH, but as this account book bears the tag of a Worcester stationer, we assume this volume is from the main factory. This chronological record gives each customer's name and address, a brief description of their order (sometimes with stenciling instructions), and a serial number, usually accompanied by a "shipped" stamp. Their customers ranged across the United States and beyond, including Mexico, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Customers include individuals, retailers, and churches. Some of the organs built by Loring & Blake during this period are still in existence today; the Reed Organ Society keeps a database of organs and their serial numbers which can be matched up here.
