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Durable Pianos

“It shows no signs whatever of the rough handling that it has received at the hands of our pupils who have used it continuously for practicing and evening amusement.” That was how J. W. Hill, M.D. described the durability of the piano purchased for Bishop Scott Academy in Portland, Oregon.

The piano he was referring to was an Ivers & Pond piano manufactured by Ivers & Pond Piano Co. They made grand, square, and upright pianos. This circa 1890 trade catalog by Ivers & Pond Piano Co. illustrates some of the pianos available for purchase at the time.

 

title page of circa 1890 Ivers & Pond Piano Co. trade catalog
Ivers & Pond Piano Co., Boston, MA. Ivers & Pond Pianos, circa 1890, title page.

 

The upright piano was described by Ivers & Pond as “THE PIANO OF TO-DAY” and one which “possesses, to a large degree, the features of the Grand–VOLUME, SINGING POWER, SWEETNESS OF TONE, and SYMPATHETIC TOUCH, the action resembling the Grand in its repeating capacity.” Shown below is Style O, an Upright piano available in rosewood finish.

 

Style O, Ivers & Pond Upright Piano
Ivers & Pond Piano Co., Boston, MA. Ivers & Pond Pianos, circa 1890, pages 20-21, Style O, Ivers & Pond Upright Piano.

 

They also manufactured Grand pianos. Illustrated below is the Small Parlor Grand Style 13. It was available in rosewood finish, mahogany, or figured walnut. This nineteenth century trade catalog stated, “Small sized Parlor Grands are rapidly growing in favor, and are the choice of everyone for home use, where there are both money and room to spare, and when we consider that a first-class Piano of this sort costs no more today, than an ordinary Square Piano did fifteen years ago, it seems probable that the Small Parlor Grand is the ‘Coming Piano.'”

 

Ivers & Pond Style 13 Small Parlor Grand Piano
Ivers & Pond Piano Co., Boston, MA. Ivers & Pond Pianos, circa 1890, pages 32-33, Style 13, Ivers & Pond Small Parlor Grand Piano.

 

For a closer look at the construction of the Ivers & Pond Grand Style 13, take a look at the pages below. The left page shows the wooden skeleton frame of the piano. The right page shows the piano after the sound-board, bridges, metal frame, tuning pins, agraffes, and strings were placed onto the wooden skeleton.

 

wooden skeleton frame and scale of piano of Ivers & Pond Grand Style 13 Piano
Ivers & Pond Piano Co., Boston, MA. Ivers & Pond Pianos, circa 1890, pages 30-31, Ivers & Pond Grand Style 13 Piano. Left page shows wooden skeleton frame of piano and right page shows scale of piano.

 

The second half of the catalog includes page after page of testimonials from happy customers. Many of these customers mention the durability of the pianos, especially for schools and colleges.

On November 15, 1887, J. W. Hill, M.D., principal of Bishop Scott Academy in Portland, Oregon, wrote: “The piano that I purchased of you two years ago for my school use is in perfect order to-day. It shows no signs whatever of the rough handling that it has received at the hands of our pupils who have used it continuously for practicing and evening amusement. It has been in almost constant use during that time. It keeps in tune remarkably well and is altogether the most satisfactory instrument that we have ever used in our school work. I should certainly give your pianos the preference over any with which I am acquainted for school purposes, being reasonable in price, extremely durable, thoroughly reliable and satisfactory instrument.”

 

front cover of circa 1890 Ivers & Pond Piano Co. trade catalog
Ivers & Pond Piano Co., Boston, MA. Ivers & Pond Pianos, circa 1890, front cover of catalog.

This trade catalog by Ivers & Pond Piano Co. is located in the Trade Literature Collection at the National Museum of American History Library. Interested in other trade catalogs related to pianos? How about toy pianos? Take a look at a previous blog post about Schoenhut toy pianos.

9 Comments

  1. Steve Liske

    I am looking for more information about the piano I just picked up.
    I believe I found the serial number 34,201.
    Any information will be appreciated.

    Thank you, Steve

    • Alexia MacClain

      Hi Steve,

      Thanks for your comment. You are welcome to submit a query to AskaLibrarian@si.edu including as much detail as possible.

      Alexia MacClain
      Library Technician

    • dcp123

      According to the serial number tables at bluebookofpianos that would have been made in 1903.

  2. Cheryl Stone

    I just took ownership of an Ivers & Pond Piano with a serial # of 14372. When was this piano made?

    • Keith Sampino

      This piano would have been built between 1890 and 1895.

  3. J. Brennan

    I have an Ivers and Pond upright spinet piano (mirror top) that was purchased in 1962 with a serial number 13101. I am just looking to see when it may have been built. thank!

    • Hi there!

      If you’d like to research your item using our trade literature collection, feel free to email askalibrarian@si.edu to see if they can help!

      Best,

      Erin Rushing
      Outreach Librarian

  4. Michael C.

    Do you have any information on William H. Ivers & Sons pianos built before he merged with Mr. Pond?

    I have William H. Ivers & Sons, square grand piano #609 and cannot find anyone or anything online to determine the age of the piano. Help?

    Michael C.

    • Alexia MacClain

      Hi Michael,

      Thanks for your comment. You are welcome to submit a query to AskaLibrarian@si.edu

      Best,
      Alexia MacClain
      Library Technician

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