Collection documents the activities of Wood & Brooks, a manufacturer of piano keys and actions.
Scope and Contents:
The collection conists primarily of correspondence Charles H. Wood, M.S. Brooks and Hilton C. Brooks, financal and sales records, and some photographs documenting the company's work as manufacturer's of ivory piano keys and piano actions.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into six series.
Series 1: Executive Records, 1889-1949
Series 2: Correspondence, 1890-1932
Series 3: Financial Records, 1891-1932
Series 4: Photographs, 1902-1959
Series 5: Piano Action and Specification Materials, 1927-1959
Series 6: Miscellaneous, 1958
Biographical / Historical:
Charles Hammond Wood founded Wood and Brooks Company in 1901, in North Tonawanda, New York with financial help from Connecticut entrepreneur, M.S. Brooks. The company manufactured piano keys and piano actions. In 1905, Wood and Brooks acquired Seavern Piano Action Company of Cambridge, Massachusettts and in 1910 purchased Kurtz Action Company of Rockford, Illinois.
Source
Dolge, Alfred. Pianos and Their Makers. Development of the piano, Volume II, 1913.
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center
Pratt, Read and Corporation Records (NMAH.AC.0320)
Warshaw Colletion of Business American, Series: Ivory (NMAH.AC.0060)
Warshaw Colletion of Business American, Series: Pianos (NMAH.AC.0060)
Ernest D. Moore Papers (NMAH.AC.0321)
Otto Gerdau Collection (NMAH.AC.0363)
Sohmer & Co. Records (NMAH.AC.0349)
Steinway & Sons Records and Family Papers (NMAH.AC.0178)
Chickering & Sons Piano Company Collection (NMAH.AC.0264)
Provenance:
Collection donated by Wood & Brooks Company, through Elizabeth W. Crane, President, 1992.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
