GB 2133 MIF - Musical Instrument Factory

Identity area

Reference code

GB 2133 MIF

Title

Musical Instrument Factory

Date(s)

  • 1893-1972 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

2 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Salvation Army's Musical Instrument Factory began at the Trade Headquarters, 56 Southwark Street, in 1889, with a staff of 2 men and a boy, and moved with the Trade Headquarters to 98-102 Clerkenwell Road in 1890. For the first three years, the factory only assembled cornets and did repairs. The factory began making valves and manufacturing all brass band instruments c1893. The first full set of instruments was made for Luton 2 corps in 1894 and the first plated set for Derby 2 (or Oldham 2) band in 1896. In 1897, the factory again moved with the Trade Department to 79-91 Fortess Road, Kentish Town, but in 1901 the instrument factory moved with the printing works to St Albans. The factory won Gold Medals at exhibitions in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1906 and 1907 and at the Franco-British Exhibition in London in 1908. The lease of the factory transferred with 8 employees to Boosey and Hawkes Ltd on 24 February 1972.

Archival history

GB 2133 MIF 1893-1972 Collection (fonds) 2 boxes Salvation Army Musical Instrument Factory

The Salvation Army's Musical Instrument Factory began at the Trade Headquarters, 56 Southwark Street, in 1889, with a staff of 2 men and a boy, and moved with the Trade Headquarters to 98-102 Clerkenwell Road in 1890. For the first three years, the factory only assembled cornets and did repairs. The factory began making valves and manufacturing all brass band instruments c1893. The first full set of instruments was made for Luton 2 corps in 1894 and the first plated set for Derby 2 (or Oldham 2) band in 1896. In 1897, the factory again moved with the Trade Department to 79-91 Fortess Road, Kentish Town, but in 1901 the instrument factory moved with the printing works to St Albans. The factory won Gold Medals at exhibitions in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1906 and 1907 and at the Franco-British Exhibition in London in 1908. The lease of the factory transferred with 8 employees to Boosey and Hawkes Ltd on 24 February 1972.

Contact the Archive for further information.

These papers are the surviving records of the Musical Instrument Factory (MIF) 1893-1972.

The factory began making and repairing instruments for Salvation Army bands in 1889, and continued until the lease was transferred to Boosey and Hawkes Ltd in 1972.

No original order is evident, so the arrangement represents a logical grouping of the factory registers, catalogues and other administrative papers.

The arrangement of the records is as follows:

MIF 1: Administrative papers, 1893-1972

MIF 2: Registers, 1925-1972

MIF 3: Catalogues

MIF 4: Photographs

See Scope and Content.

Open for research. The reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre is open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.

Contact the Archive for further information.

English

Contact the Archive for further information.

'Army Instruments in the Making', series in The Bandsman, Local Officer and Songster, March 1920 (p35), April 1920 (p57), May 1920 (p73), June 1920 (p91) and July 1920 (p105); 'The Making of Army Instruments', series in The Bandsman and Songster, 22 February 1930 (p59), 1 March 1930 (p69), 8 March 1930 (p76), 15 March 1930 (p87), 22 March 1930 (p94), 29 March 1930 (p101); The Slide Trombone, by F G Hawkes (Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd, 1929).

Catalogued by Gordon Taylor, September-October 2008
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

EAD into AIM25 October 2014 Musical instrument manufacture Salvation Army Musical Instrument Factory Manufacturing industry Industry

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Contact the Archive for further information.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

These papers are the surviving records of the Musical Instrument Factory (MIF) 1893-1972.

The factory began making and repairing instruments for Salvation Army bands in 1889, and continued until the lease was transferred to Boosey and Hawkes Ltd in 1972.

No original order is evident, so the arrangement represents a logical grouping of the factory registers, catalogues and other administrative papers.

The arrangement of the records is as follows:

MIF 1: Administrative papers, 1893-1972

MIF 2: Registers, 1925-1972

MIF 3: Catalogues

MIF 4: Photographs

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

See Scope and Content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open for research. The reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre is open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.

Conditions governing reproduction

Contact the Archive for further information.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

'Army Instruments in the Making', series in The Bandsman, Local Officer and Songster, March 1920 (p35), April 1920 (p57), May 1920 (p73), June 1920 (p91) and July 1920 (p105); 'The Making of Army Instruments', series in The Bandsman and Songster, 22 February 1930 (p59), 1 March 1930 (p69), 8 March 1930 (p76), 15 March 1930 (p87), 22 March 1930 (p94), 29 March 1930 (p101); The Slide Trombone, by F G Hawkes (Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd, 1929).

Finding aids

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Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Salvation Army International Heritage Centre

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area