Hallet Davis Pianos
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Hallet, Davis & Co. Boston (HD&C), is a piano line commonly referred to as Hallet Davis, and first founded under the name Brown and Hallet in 1835.[1] It is the oldest American brand of piano in continuous production. HD&C pianos have gone through extensive changes,[2][3] with several owners over their history. HD&C pianos are now manufactured by the China-based Pearl River Piano Group.[4] They come in several sizes of uprights and grand pianos, with three distinct types of pianos.
Major Owners since 1835[edit]
- 1835: Started as Brown & Hallet in Boston, Massachusetts (USA)[1]
- 1843: Davis becomes part of the company and Hallet, Davis & Company becomes Hallet, Davis & Co. Boston[1]
- Late 1920s: The Hallet, Davis & Co. name is sold to the Aeolian Group and the pianos are made in Rochester, NY[1]
- 1985 to 2014: The Aeolian Group goes out of business, and Hallet, Davis & Co. is sold to three different companies in Korea and China during this time[2]
- 2014 to 2015: Pearl River purchases the Hallet, Davis & Co. name and starts production at their piano manufacturing plant in Guangzhou Pearl River Piano Group plant, in Guangzhou, Guang Dong Province, China[4]
1835 to 1980s[edit]
Similiar production site with Mason and Hamlin pianos[edit]
The Hallet, Davis & Company piano factory was formerly in Neponset, Massachusetts, where the Mason & Hamlin piano line was subsequently produced, before the HD&C line was moved to the Aeolian plant in Rochester, New York[5]
1980s to present[edit]
HD&C pianos have changed hands since 1985 between Korean and Chinese owners[2][3] Pearl River now makes the Hallet Davis Piano line as it does one line for Steinway and Sons.[4] Comparisons between the Hallet Davis Grand Piano and the Steinway Grand Piano (e.g., The Hallet Davis 188 cm or 6 ft 2 inch HS188EP versus the Steinway A that is also 6 ft 2 inch) indicate an identical use of materials - the only difference being the means of creation; The Hallet Davis is partially hand made in terms of producing the final product from machine made products, whereas the Steinway uses more handmade materials and more handmade final production. .[6]
Types of Hallet, Davis & Co. Pianos and connection with Franz Liszt[edit]
HD&C now produces three types of pianos.[7] In 1867 Franz Liszt played a Hallet, Davis & Co. piano at a Paris exposition,[7] indicating that the Hallet, Davis & Co. name was well known since the middle 1800s,[8] and has expanded the range of both upright and grand piano types since then. The Hallet Davis piano has continued to carry the "American" sound as indicated by piano virtuoso Robert Estrin (2014)[9]
Below are the three types of the Hallet, Davis & Co Pianos made as of 2016:
- Heritage Collection for entry level playing including "small" baby grands[10] (Starting at 4 ft 7 in) and also known as "mini" baby grands, as well as uprights
- Signature Series for professionals and serious piano students, with both uprights and grand pianos, and the largest Grand Piano in regular production at 6 ft 2 in
- (A 7 foot Signature Series Grand Piano, available upon special order)
- Imperial Collection with ornate woods and finishes
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Hallet & Davis Piano Company History". Antique Piano Shop. 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Acoustic Piano: Brand & Company Profiles: Hallet, Davis & Co". Piano Buyer. 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Living Pianos.com (2014)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Concert Pitch Piano Company (2013);http://www.concertpitchpiano.com/Pearl-River-Piano-Prices.html
- ↑ Ayars, Christine Merrick (1937). Contributions to the Art of Music in America by the Music Industries of Boston 1640 to 1936. New York: The H. H. Wilson Company. p. 127. OCLC 26107160. Search this book on
- ↑ "Blue Book of Pianos: Manufacturers Suggested List Prices". 2015.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Hallet and Davis Pianos". Total Piano Care. 2015.
- ↑ John C. Freund, ed. (1922). The Purchaser's Guide to the Music Industries. New York: The Music Trades Company. p. 139. OCLC 7865525. Search this book on
- ↑ Robert Estrin (2014) Living Pianos.com
- ↑ "Blue Book of Pianos: Types and Sizes of Grand Pianos". 2015.
Further reading[edit]
- Clinkscale, Martha Novak (1993). Makers of the Piano: 1820-1860. Oxford University Press. pp. 62–63. ISBN 978-0-19-816625-2. Search this book on
- Dolge, Alfred (1913). Pianos and Their Makers: A Comprehensive History of the Development of the Piano from the Monochord to the Concert Grand Player Piano. Dover Publications. pp. 105–109. Search this book on
- Koster, John (September 1994). Keyboard musical instruments in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. pp. 306–310. ISBN 978-0-87846-401-2. Search this book on
- Pauer, Ernst (1895). A Dictionary of Pianists and Composers for the Pianoforte: With an Appendix of Manufacturers of the Instrument. Novello. p. 142. Search this book on
- Spillane, Daniel (1890). History of the American Pianoforte: Its Technical Development, and the Trade. D. Spillane. pp. 165–170. Search this book on
External links[edit]
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