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Pratt, Read Corporation Records

Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Extent:
84 Cubic feet (106 boxes, 28 oversize folders)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Motion pictures (visual works)
Financial records
Employee records
Advertisements
Minute books
Sales records
Design drawings
Manufacturing records
Legal documents
Annual reports
Publications
Photographs
Correspondence
Labels
Stock records
Place:
Ivoryton (Conn.)
Date:
1839-1990
Summary:
Records documenting Pratt, Read and Company; its early competitor and later partner, Comstock, Cheney and Company; and a number of predecessor, subsidiary and related companies. Other topics include the late 19th century African ivory trade and Pratt, Read's production of troop-carrying gliders during World War II.
Scope and Contents:
Pratt, Read & Company, located in the Essex area of Connecticut, was once the world's largest producer of ivory products. Beginning with the manufacture of combs, collar buttons, and toothpicks, the company moved on to the production of piano and organ key veneers, and soon dominated the field. Eventually, it began to produce complete piano and organ keyboards and actions, becoming the major supplier to the American piano industry. The records in this collection document Pratt, Read & Company; its early competitor and later partner, Comstock, Cheney & Company; and a number of predecessor, subsidiary, and related companies. Other topics of interest dealt with in this collection include the late nineteenth century African ivory trade and Pratt, Read's production of troop carrying gliders during World War II.
Arrangement:
The Collection is divided into seven series.

Series 1: Predecessor and Miscellaneous Companies, 1839-1870s

Series 2: Comstock, Cheney and Company, 1863-1936

Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, 1863-1988

Series 4: Gould Aeronautical Division, 1941-1977

Series 5: Subsidiary and Related Companies, 1859-1980

Series 6: Information on Related Companies, 1977-1992

Series 7; Addenda, 1837-2004
Historical:
Pratt, Read & Company is one of the oldest companies in the state of Connecticut. The firm traces its origins to 1798, when an Essex goldsmith and clockmaker named Phineas Pratt invented a circular saw to cut the teeth on ivory combs. In 1809, George Read and his brother in law, Phineas Pratt II, dammed the Deep River in the nearby town of Deep River and constructed a waterwheel to power ivory cutting machinery. Read left the partnership in 1816, and Phineas Pratt II joined with Alfred Worthington to manufacture ivory combs under the name of Pratt Worthington & Company. When Worthington died in 1830, two of Phineas Pratt II's sons, Ulysses and Alexis, took over the business, operating as U & A Pratt. The name was changed in 1844 to Pratt Spencer & Company, when a new partner was added, and changed again in 1850, to Pratt Brothers & Company. In 1856 the company erected a much larger factory in Deep River.

In the meantime, Julius Pratt, another of Phineas Pratt I's sons, had joined with Thomas Howard to set up an ivory comb factory in the town of Meriden. This firm was known as Howard, Pratt & Company. After Howard's death in 1822, it became Julius Pratt & Company. In 1854, the firm began to produce wooden piano keyboards, which then were fitted with keys of ivory. One half interest in this firm was owned by George Read.

When Read left his original partnership with Phineas Pratt II in 1816, he joined with Essex comb maker Ezra Williams to set up a new ivory working factory in Deep River. This new firm was known as Ezra Williams & Company. In 1829, Read became the senior partner and the company's name was changed to George Read & Company. This company later secured a very important contract to supply ivory keys for the first American manufacturer of pianos, Chickering & Sons of Boston.

In 1863, the firms of George Read & Company, Julius Pratt & Company, and Pratt Brothers & Company, were merged to form Pratt, Read & Company. The new company further enlarged its factory in Deep River in 1866. In 1871, the old Julius Pratt & Company factory in Meriden was closed and its operations moved to Deep River. Though this factory was destroyed by fire in 1881, a larger factory was quickly rebuilt and the company was back in business early in 1882.

With the election of George L. Cheney as president in 1892, Pratt, Read & Company began a period of continued expansion. In December of that year the company joined with another Connecticut piano component manufacturer, Comstock, Cheney & Company, to organize a midwestern manufacturing branch, under the name of the Piano & Organ Supply Company. This firm was to serve the territory west of Toledo, Ohio, operating in competition with its parent companies. In 1929 Pratt, Read and Comstock, Cheney combined to buy out the Piano & Organ Supply Company and it was dissolved.

In 1910 Pratt, Read & Company decided to begin the manufacture of piano actions. An independent manufacturer of piano actions, New York based Wasle & Company, and its subsidiary, the Wasle Unique Player Action Company, were acquired that same year. In 1914, Pratt, Read built a second factory solely for the production of player piano actions in Deep River. Wasle & Company was dissolved in 1919 and its production was continued under the Pratt, Read name. The company soon acquired two additional keyboard and action manufacturers: the Sylvester Tower Company of Cambridge, Mass., was purchased, dissolved, and all its equipment was moved to Deep River in 1924; and Strauch Bros. Company of New York was purchased in 1926. The Deep River player action plant operated until 1928, when business declined and production of player piano actions was discontinued in favor of manufacturing small motorboats. This line of business also soon declined and the project was abandoned by 1932.

COMSTOCK, CHENEY & COMPANY. Meanwhile, other manufacturers of ivory products had been at work in the Essex area. Chief among these was the firm of Comstock, Cheney & Company of Ivoryton. The dominant figure in this company was Samuel M. Comstock. He had learned the ivory cutting trade while working in his older brother's Saybrook area ivory cutting shop, known as Joseph A. Comstock & Company. By 1838, Samuel had left his brother's shop and joined with Edwin Griswold to set up Comstock & Griswold Company further west up the Falls River in Centerbrook. In 1848, the company moved its operations to a new factory in the Ivoryton area, where combs, toothpicks, and other ivory products were made. At the same time, the firm's name was changed to S. M. Comstock & Company, reflecting Samuel's sole ownership.

In 1860, Samuel Comstock allied his firm with George A. Cheney to form Comstock, Cheney & Company. Cheney had invested in Comstock's firm and was one of the principals in the important New York based ivory importing firm of Arnold, Cheney & Company. The new firm began production of thin slices of ivory for mounting on wooden piano keys. It also had its own agents buying ivory in Africa, most of which went toward production of piano keys. The company was formally incorporated in 1872 and in 1873 it opened an even larger factory in Ivoryton.

1936 MERGER. On December 31, l936, Pratt, Read & Company of Deep River was consolidated and merged with Comstock, Cheney & Company of Ivoryton. The resulting corporation was titled Pratt, Read & Company, Inc. By l938, all manufacturing operations had been consolidated in Ivoryton and the Deep River factory closed. During World War II, both the Deep River factory and the Ivoryton factory were used to produce CG 4A "Waco" troop carrying gliders for the U.S. Army Air Forces, along with LNE 1 training gliders and the GLOMB experimental plane for the U.S. Navy. Production of piano keyboards and actions was sharply curtailed for the duration of the war, and was slow to resume afterward. In l946 the Deep River factory was sold.

From 1948 to l957, the Ivoryton factory was enlarged and modernized on a large scale. During the Korean War, the company contracted to make helicopter blades for the Kaman Corporation of Bloomfield, Conn., and this partnership lasted for fourteen years. In l958, Pratt, Read transferred all of its piano action manufacturing operations to a newly built plant in Central, S.C. This move was made primarily in order to modernize production facilities at a lower cost than would have been possible through continued renovation of the Ivoryton plant.

With the election of Peter H. Comstock (a great grandson of one of the founders of Comstock, Cheney & Company) as President in 1954, the firm began an ambitious plan of diversification. The Cornwall & Patterson Company of Bridgeport, Conn., manufacturer of piano hardware, was purchased in l957. In 1959, Pratt, Read joined with six British Commonwealth firms to acquire British Piano Actions, Ltd., of Wales. Keyboards, Inc., a Chicago based producer of keyboards for electronic organs, was acquired in 1960. The Tech Art Plastics Company of Morristown, N.J., a custom molder of plastics materials especially for the piano industry, was acquired in 1961. The F. Kelly Company of Derby, Conn., which specialized in the production of small metal parts, was acquired in l964, and operated as a division of Cornwall & Patterson. In l966, Pratt, Read purchased the Allen Rogers Corporation of Laconia, N.H., which produced wooden furniture and piano components.

MERGER WITH VOCALINE COMPANY. In February l968, Pratt, Read & Company, Inc., was merged into the Vocaline Company of America, Inc., of Old Saybrook, Conn. Peter H. Comstock became chairman and chief executive officer of Vocaline Corporation, while remaining president of Pratt, Read. Vocaline was then organized into two major divisions the Vocaline Division and the Pratt, Read Division. The Pratt, Read Division concentrated on the production of piano keys and actions. It operated three subdivisions: the Ivoryton Division (keyboards, wooden and plastic moldings, and unfinished furniture); the Action Division (piano actions); and the Lund Division, formerly Keyboards, Inc., (electronic organ components). Both of the latter divisions operated out of the Central, S.C., plant. The Lund Division was known as the Electronics Division by 1970.

The Vocaline Division produced and sold electric motors, timing devices, and other small electromechanical mechanisms through its Electronics Section and its Bristol Motor and Timer Section. Another subsidiary of the Vocaline Division Altron, Inc., based in Westerly, R.I. produced wire coils. Through its Research and Development Center in Waldboro, Maine, Vocaline conducted antisubmarine warfare research for the U.S. Navy. By 1970, the Vocaline Division had been streamlined into four divisions: the Allen Rogers Corporation (small shaped wood products); Altron, Inc. (wire coils); the Bristol Division, later known as the Bristol Saybrook Company (electric motors and timers); and the Cornwall & Patterson Company (piano hardware and small tools). In addition, research for the Navy had been expanded and combined with other oceanographic research under the control of a subsidiary company, VAST, Inc., with operations in both Maine and the Caribbean.

PRATT READ CORPORATION. In October 1970, the Vocaline Corporation changed its name to the Pratt Read Corporation. This was done partly to increase identity with its oldest traditions and partly to reflect a shift away from the early emphasis on the Vocaline side of the corporation. The new corporation continued to refine its interests under the direction of Peter H. Comstock, who became company president in February 1970. The Tech Arts Plastic Company was sold off in May 1972, although it remained a source of supply for custom molded parts. In 1974 Pratt Read purchased the Atlas Plywood Company of Morrisville, Vt., in order to use its mill and kilns in the preparation of lumber for the Ivoryton factory, whose own facilities were overburdened. This company was operated as a subsidiary of Pratt Read.

By 1976, the Pratt Read Corporation was organized into five operating divisions. The Allen Rogers Corporation produced toys, golf tees, spools, knobs, and other turned and shaped wood products. Altron, Inc., produced bobbins and coils of copper wire. The Bristol Saybrook Company produced small electric motors and timers. The Cornwall & Patterson Company produced piano hardware parts, screwdriver blades, and other small hand tools. Pratt, Read & Company produced wooden components for pianos and other musical instruments. The company's ownership of VAST, Inc., was sold off in March 1976. Later that year, the company acquired Sight Line Corporation, a Freehold, N.J., manufacturer of golf clubs. This subsidiary, operated as the Sounder Sports Division, was sold in May 1979.

In October of 1979, James H. Tucker replaced Peter H. Comstock as president of Pratt Read; Comstock remained chairman of the board and chief executive officer. His nephew, Harwood B. Comstock, became the next president in October 1982. In June 1982, the Ivoryton factory was severely damaged by flooding after two dams burst upstream during a torrential rainstorm. Although the administrative offices were destroyed and the plant filled with several feet of mud and debris, the facility was back in production within two weeks. In August 1982, Pratt Read acquired the Sohmer Piano Company, a 111 year old Long Island based manufacturer of pianos, and in December 1982 Sohmer's production facilities were moved into the Ivoryton factory. By July 1983 Sohmer was producing about six upright pianos a day in its new location.

By the early 1980s, the American piano industry had entered a period of decline and even Peter Comstock's diversification efforts could not keep it out of trouble. A major blow came in 1984 with the loss of a large contract to manufacture keyboards for Mattel Electronics's Intellivision home video system. This was exacerbated by a slump in the piano industry in mid year. The increased import of Japanese and Korean pianos further undercut the American industry, resulting in slowdowns and profit losses for Pratt Read. Attempting to compete on the same basis with this foreign competition, Pratt Read joined with the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company in May 1985 to establish the Pratt Win Corporation. This joint venture resulted in the closing of Pratt Read's Central, S.C., piano action manufacturing plant and the transfer of its operations to a new Baldwin plant in Juarez, Mexico. Pratt Read sold its interest in Pratt Win to Baldwin in October 1986.

Piano sales continued to decline, however, and Pratt Read continued to suffer losses. In March 1986, the company was acquired by Crescent & Company, a corporation controlled by Harwood B. Comstock, president of Pratt, Read & Company. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Crescent & Company, but retained the name Pratt Read Corporation. In April 1986, the company sold its Sohmer piano subsidiary together with the Ivoryton factory where it was housed; Sohmer & Company continued to produce upright pianos under independent ownership in Ivoryton until December 1988. In December 1986 the Bristol Saybrook Company was sold off. By 1990, the company had sold off all remaining assets except for a sawmill in Vermont and the Cornwall & Patterson Company in Bridgeport, Conn., where the remaining corporate staff relocated.

Sources

Deep River Historical Society, Inc. A History of Pratt Read & Co. 1973.

1899 Souvenir of Essex, Connecticut. Rpt., The Ivoryton Public Library, 1979.

Johnson, Curtiss S. "From Ivory Combs to Carnegie Hall and Today:The History of the Pratt Read Corporation." [Unpublished history in the collection.]

Moore, Ernst D. "History of Pratt, Read & Company." [Unpublished history in the Ernst D. Moore Collection, Archives Center Collection #321.]

Newspaper Clippings in the collection.

Pratt Read Corporation. Annual Reports.

Vocaline Corporation. Annual Report, 1970.
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History:
Records relating to Pratt, Read and to Comstock, Cheney can be found in a number of other collections, both within the Archives Center and in other repositories. The Wood & Brooks Company Records (Archives Center coll. #457) contain significant information on Pratt, Read's operations and an important record of production statistics gathered by George Wood while he was factory superintendent and taken with him when he set up a rival firm in Buffalo. While the Ernst Moore Collection (Archives Center coll. #321) primarily documents the purchase of ivory in Africa (much of which was ultimately used by Pratt, Read), it also includes a history of Pratt, Read written by Moore while he was employed by them. The Sohmer & Company Records (Archives Center coll. #349) document the piano manufacturing firm that Pratt Read acquired in 1982.
Separated Materials:
"The Pratt Read Corporation also donated a number of objects to the National Museum of American History, Division of Cultural and Community Life and Division of Work and Industry at the same time as their 1988 donation of archival records. Included were combs and letter openers and other examples of products made from ivory; piano components, such as gauge boards, key actions, and keys; and such diverse items as tools used in the factory, World War II employee I.D. badges, and a uniform from the company sponsored basketball team.

"
Provenance:
Donated by Pratt, Read Corporation in 1989. In addition to the papers donated by the company, several individuals donated Pratt, Read materials in their possession.
Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
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.
Topic:
Piano  Search this
Ivory industry  Search this
Piano makers  Search this
Ivory  Search this
Gliders (Aeronautics)  Search this
Genre/Form:
Motion pictures (visual works)
Financial records
Employee records
Advertisements -- 20th century
Minute books
Sales records
Design drawings
Manufacturing Records
Legal documents
Annual reports
Publications
Photographs -- 19th century
Correspondence -- 19th century
Correspondence -- 20th century
Labels
Stock records
Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8bf5733a2-e028-45da-afc6-bbc9c4def241
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0320
Online Media:

Gould Aeronautical Division

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1941-1977
Scope and Contents:
The records in this series relate to the Gould Aeronautical Division, set up by Pratt, Read in 1942 to manufacture gliders for the U.S. armed forces during World War II. Pratt, Read's long experience with woodworking made this a logical course of action, since the gliders at the time were constructed primarily of wood. Pratt, Read produced three types of gliders during the war. These were the CG 4A "WACO" troop transport glider, the LNE 1 (or PRG 1) training glider, and an experimental bomb carrying plane, the GLOMB. Both of the latter were made for the U.S. Navy, while the CG 4A was made for the U.S. Army Air Forces. This series is composed of eleven subseries.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Series 4
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep83cfa65e4-77ec-4f1d-a849-48e80cb71d0a
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref130

Addenda

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1837-2004
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Series 7
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep89a6b1365-94c8-45f7-920c-2430b276d4f2
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref1417

Subsidiary and Related Companies

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1859-1980
Scope and Contents:
The records in Series 5 relate to subsidiary companies owned or operated by Pratt, Read; the divisions of Pratt, Read that were operated independently; companies with which Pratt, Read did business; and the Vocaline Company of America and its subsidiaries. The series consists primarily of advertising records: artwork, mechanicals, proof sheets, photonegatives, and contact sheets. Most of the photoprints in this series probably resulted from photographers' visits to the various factory sites to take pictures for use in advertisements. The bulk of the records in this series date from 1955-1980. The series is arranged alphabetically by company name.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Series 5
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep855ab641e-644a-4ccf-a12e-6e32457c272f
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref146

Allen Rogers Corporation

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1966 - 1980
Scope and Contents:
The photoprints for the ALLEN ROGERS CORPORATION, ca. 1972-1980, contain contact sheets showing interior scenes of their factory.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 5.1
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 5: Subsidiary and Related Companies
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep89bf482c8-79af-480f-a711-5c7c7d3f47e3
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref148

Miscellaneous

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1943-1979
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 4.10
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 4: Gould Aeronautical Division
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b1b2ee0e-8cfb-48dc-8988-ec1e584bc2cd
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref152

Related Materials

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1944-1983
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 4.11
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 4: Gould Aeronautical Division
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep818a168f1-5499-4305-aeea-e2ce3fa2e30c
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref153

Executive Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1863 - 1988
Scope and Contents:
The EXECUTIVE RECORDS, 1863 1988, include the corporate minute books for the period 1863-1980. Unfortunately, the minute book for the period from November 1863 to August 1902 is missing from the collection. Other records include copies of the company's bylaws and articles of association, board papers from 1936 1985, annual and quarterly reports from 1936-1985, and several miscellaneous items. The STOCK RECORDS include three stock certificates; a stock transfer book, 1938-1956; a stock analysis done by Salomon Brothers in 1986; and notices to stockholders, 1956-1986.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.1
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep840636c2c-c500-4e97-ac0c-da4c29e42f03
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref252

Stock Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1938 - 1986
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.2
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8454040a4-4233-4680-a9ac-54b041322cae
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref253

Financial Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1864 - 1985
Scope and Contents:
FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1864-1985, include annual financial statements from 1864-1923 and 1971-1985; two journals, 1933-1942; and general ledgers, 1926-1964. The audit report of accounts, 1913-1941, provides financial data for both Pratt, Read and Comstock, Cheney. A two year financial planning program for the company covers the period 1978-1980. Also of interest is a May 1982 report on the possible acquisition of Sohmer & Company; Pratt Read acquired the Long Island based piano manufacturer later that year.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.3
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep820dece91-cd4c-4412-b3c1-d5677ff82b16
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref254

Publicity and Advertising Scrapbooks

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1902 - 1988
Scope and Contents:
The collection contains many ADVERTISING RECORDS. These materials document the company's efforts to keep its name and products prominently before its customers in the piano industry. The majority of these advertisements appeared in trade journals such as the Music Trade Review, Music Trades, the Piano Technician's Journal, and the Piano Trade Magazine. In addition to clipped out copies of Pratt, Read's advertisements, the PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING SCRAPBOOKS, 1902-1988, contain news clippings about competing firms, developments in piano technology, articles about prominent individuals in the trade, and the activities of various organizations and associations, such as the Piano Tuners' Guild. Other clippings provide details on Pratt, Read's latest technological innovations and the company's efforts to promote the use of pianos in school music programs. The majority of these scrapbooks date from 1934-1935 and 1953-1988; they are arranged chronologically from the back of the book forward. Another scrapbook, dating from 1902-1985, contains miscellaneous news clippings and advertisements. Also included in this subseries are two publicity scrapbooks, 1952-1974, which contain news releases put out by Pratt, Read.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.4
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep81c2487be-4e29-44ed-9cf4-a2f87ea0d852
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref255

Advertising Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1958 - 1977
Scope and Contents:
ADVERTISING RECORDS, 1958-1977, consist of the actual materials which were created during the development of the company's advertisements. Again, these advertisements were developed primarily for piano trade magazines. These records include artwork, mechanicals, proofsheets, photoprints, photonegatives, transparencies, and preliminary sketches. They represent about 95 percent of Pratt, Read's advertising campaigns between 1958 and 1977 and include advertisements that were never used. Pratt, Read contracted with a number of different advertising agencies during this period, including C. A. Smith & Co. (Westport, Conn.), Shailer/Davidoff, Inc. (Fairfield, Conn.), Dexter Associates (Madison, Conn.), and McNamara Associates, Inc. (Detroit, Mich.). However, the bulk of the records in this subseries was generated by the firm of Marc Dorian, Inc. (Mamaroneck, N.Y.), between 1970 and 1977. Cleverly utilizing animated piano keys, hammers, and other piano action elements, Marc Dorian created several series of advertisements. While most emphasized Pratt, Read's long history and tradition of quality, others adopted a slightly risqué theme or were built around quotations from Shakespeare. Some of these advertisements were translated and used in German piano trade journals. The materials in this subseries have been arranged by advertisement, in chronological order by date of their first recorded use.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.5
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8df532874-43bd-4c6a-ba97-f57096028943
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref256

Sales Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1860 - 1979
Scope and Contents:
Information concerning the sale and marketing of Pratt, Read's piano keyboards and actions can be found in the SALES RECORDS, 1860 1979. These include an 1860 agreement with the firm of Julius Pratt & Company for the joint sale of ivory combs; price lists for ivory combs, 1864-1865 and 1920; labels for boxes of ivory combs; and blank sales receipts from the company's London office, undated The monthly sales figures, 1914 1931, show total sales income by month and by year, while the monthly sales statistics, 1917-1936, detail sales according to type and value of goods sold (e.g., sharps, ivory, hammers, etc.). The record of sharp sales is a day by day accounting which lists customer name and type of sharps ordered. The scrap orders journal is a daily record of orders for small ivory items, such as collar buttons, billiard cue tips, and beads, as well as scrap ivory. Information on sales for the period 1952-1969 can be found in two charts, one showing the total number of complete keyboards shipped and the other showing average key and action prices.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.6
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep822a8983d-e8d0-4eab-9db5-54197abfecfd
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref257

Personnel Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1890 - 1983
Scope and Contents:
PERSONNEL RECORDS, 1890-1983, primarily date from the mid 1940s to the late 1970s. Notable exceptions, however, include a photocopy of the West Factory time book from 1890 1900, a company payroll from February 1894, and three piece rate books from the period 1926-1939. The piece rate books, arranged by factory department, show employee name and amount earned per piece completed. Many of the records in this subseries set forth personnel practices and policy, through instructions, memoranda, and employee handbooks. Details of Pratt, Read's organization and structure can be found in various organization manuals, charts, and evaluation program records. The company's dealings with the local chapter of the United Furniture Workers of America union are represented by correspondence, 1945-1946; agreements, 1947-1982; a union publicity scrapbook, 1948 1952; and three scrapbooks of news clippings about strikes in 1947 and 1974. This subseries also includes a complete run of Harmony Magazine, the employee newsmagazine, from 1953-1981.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.7
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8c47b8f62-49e6-4ee0-9226-82e952704479
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref258

Real Estate Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1867 - 1978
Scope and Contents:
The REAL ESTATE RECORDS, 1867-1978, consist of maps, plans, architects' drawings, and specifications detailing the various buildings at Pratt, Read's two factory sites. The Deep River site is depicted on two maps taken from the 1867 edition of the Beers & Company Atlas of New York and Vicinity. Site specific insurance maps provide detailed information about factory layout, building construction, and manufacturing processes for the period pre 1880 and 1915-1937. Most of the plans for the Deep River site date from the period after the great fire of 1881. They include the main keyboard factory, the player action factory, bleach houses, an ivory storage vault, various storehouses, and other utilitarian buildings. The Ivoryton site is represented by plans for the expansion of the keyboard factory in the post World War II period. Also of interest are plans and architects' drawings for apartment buildings and houses for company employees, a housing plat of Deep River, and a real estate record book that shows receipts from tenants in company owned housing for the period 1932-1945.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.8
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep80750c916-57f1-4e7f-a187-a66f7a1a12fc
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref259

Manufacturing and Design Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1892 - 1968
Scope and Contents:
MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN RECORDS, 1892-1968, document the raw materials used in the manufacturing process, the output of goods produced, and the design and specification of keyboards and action components. The oldest item in this subseries is a private inventory book written by George L. Cheney shortly after he became president of the firm in 1892. It records on hand stocks of ivory, combs, piano keys, ebony and other woods, and real estate property. The register of lumber received, 1936-1947 a continuation of the record begun by Comstock, Cheney & Company in 1926 is an accounting of the various types of wood ordered for use in this industry.

Ivory usage is documented in a number of records. Two ivory purchase journals, 1936-1955, record the weight and prices of ivory tusks purchased, by lot number. The tusk ivory receiving reports, 1946-1955 (also arranged by lot number) record the number assigned to each tusk, its quality grade, characteristics, and any defects. The tusk ivory inventory record book, 1950-1953, provides the invoice number and weight of each lot of tusks. Handwritten notes of ivory work done by Grace Schmelke describe one employee's daily piece rate work in the years 1955-1958. The ivory bleaching record is a spiral bound notebook which records the movement of individual tusks into and out of the bleach houses. Other records show the percent of wastage per lot of ivory and the number of keys produced. The file titled "Production Procedures for Ivory and Lumber" contains a number of descriptive narratives concerning the qualities of ivory and wood used in pianos, the procedures involved in bleaching ivory and in processing ivory keyboards, and a step by step description of the ivory shop routine. Also of interest are copies of the formulas used in dyeing piano sharps.

Piano production and design records include correspondence and news clippings from 1942-1946 that provide information on the curtailment of piano production during World War II by both Pratt, Read and the piano industry in general. Under regulations imposed by the War Production Board and the Office of Price Administration, raw materials essential to the war effort were not available for piano production and piano prices escalated to levels that discouraged sales. Despite these restrictions, Pratt, Read attempted to maintain a research and development program, examining the possibilities of producing other parts of the piano, such as backs, boards, ribs, and cases. This effort is documented in the correspondence files of Peter Comstock, 1943 1945, which also contain information about the whole piano industry's attempts to cope with wartime restrictions. Peter Calamari's files document a postwar cooperative effort with the Aeolian American Piano Company to produce a player piano. They include correspondence, drawings, specifications, and photoprints.

Action specification books were kept by type of piano regular, upright, and grand. The books, dating from 1927 1968, are arranged alphabetically by customer name. Information is provided on the style, size, specifications, and price of keys, sharps, actions, and other components sold to each company. Oversize blueprint drawings of piano actions dating from 1924 to 1957 are also found in this subseries. Other drawings include artists' views for several pianos designed by Benjamin J. Beck, 1944; designs for a folding keyboard, 1946; and designs for the K 4 piano assembly, 1947.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.10
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep89d2fb830-efbb-49c3-8c59-decd13e4c39e
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref261

Engineering Department Records

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1964 - 1964
Scope and Contents:
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT RECORDS, 1964, consist of customer files, interoffice correspondence, vendor files, and miscellaneous files. They are a complete one year sample, chosen at random, of the Engineering Department records from a period of Pratt, Read's high postwar productivity. The customer files are arranged alphabetically by name of company or individual to whom Pratt, Read supplied actions, keyboards, or components. Several major piano and organ companies are included, such as Aeolian American, Janssen, Kimball, Lowrey, and Sohmer & Company. The files consist of specifications, drawings, memos, and schedules for production. The interoffice correspondence is that sent or received by A. W. Nordquist, Chief of the Manufacturing Engineering Section. This correspondence deals with personnel questions, changes in specifications, customers' orders, and other routine matters. The vendor files are correspondence, catalogues, price quotations, and other information sent to A. W. Nordquist from various supply houses. Nordquist's miscellaneous files cover a variety of topics, including inventories of shipments made to the company's Central, S. C., plant; plans for plastic spray on key coverings; personnel notices; the safety program; plastic key production schedules; and other engineering issues. Also of interest is a file of drawings supplied to British Piano Actions, Ltd.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.11
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep809e84ea6-4876-420b-9cc8-754c04c6a04c
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref262

Historical Background Information

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1881 - 1989
Scope and Contents:
HISTORICAL & BACKGROUND MATERIAL, 1881-1989, consists primarily of news clippings and miscellaneous information about the history of Pratt, Read, the African ivory trade, the piano trade, Pratt Read's involvement in music education, and the Ivoryton area. Especially interesting are an unpublished "History of the Pratt Read Corporation" written by Curtiss S. Johnson, A History of Pratt, Read & Company of Deep River published by the Deep River Historical Society, and news clippings about the company from 1881-1882 and 1935-1986. The ivory trade is documented in news clippings from 1921-1989 and in two personal accounts of life in Zanzibar, one by Harriet Cheney Downing from 1942 and the other by Carlotta Welles from 1980. News clippings about the piano trade, the adoption of plastic for keys, and other developments are also found in this subseries. A reprinted 1899 Souvenir of Essex, Connecticut contains valuable information about the factory buildings, stores, the employees' bicycle club, and the company's central role in the community. Other news clippings cover the Ivoryton Inn, the Ivoryton Theatre, and the Ivory Museum established by the company in 1977.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.14
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8a1f51835-c4ba-43da-9124-42fed88f5e34
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref266

Publications

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1930 - 1981
Scope and Contents:
PUBLICATIONS, 1930-1981, primarily comprise company catalogues dealing with plastics, felt making, organ supplies, and a publicity booklet from Ichabod T. Williams & Sons, importers of foreign and domestic woods. Also included are pamphlets about Pratt, Read's facilities and its relationship to the Vocaline Company of America.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0320, Subseries 3.15
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 3: Pratt, Read and Company, Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., and Pratt-Read Corporation
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep83b0b1525-4aeb-4851-8c58-80fa367fd0b8
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref267

Altron, Inc.

Collection Donor:
Nickse, Hugo  Search this
Johnson, Hanford  Search this
Steinway, Henry Ziegler  Search this
Collection Creator:
Comstock, Cheney and Co.  Search this
Pratt, Read and Company  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1964 - 1979
Scope and Contents:
The photoprints for ALTRON, INC., ca. 1979, show factory scenes and displays of their products arranged for use in advertisements.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records, 1839-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
See more items in:
Pratt, Read Corporation Records
Pratt, Read Corporation Records / Series 5: Subsidiary and Related Companies
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8070196ea-9c15-4926-8a32-f000e255b2c1
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0320-ref280

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