2004-10-30/2019-10-28 - From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). — With Lewis C. Harrison firm of Bloomfield, New Jersey, in the 1900s; with Beman Symphonie Organ Co. of Binghamton, New York, 1913, incorporator. Patents held: Patent #1,167,344; January 4, 1916; Automatic Organ. (jointly with Myron C. Beman, Binghamton, New York) Patent US 1,224,783; 1927; Automatic Musical Instrument. (jointly with Myron Beman, and Frank Beman, Binghamton, New York
2016-02-17/2019-04-29 - From the OHS PC Database, Builders Listing Editor. Updated Feb 17, 2016 with information from sources listed in Sources below. - Frank A. Pilcher (1856-after 1930)1 was an English born organ builder who immigrated to the U.S. in 1893.2 He possibly lived in Marietta, Ohio 1904-1906, and gained U.S. citizenship circa 1905 (see extended note below). He was with the Lewis C. Harrison firm of Bloomfield, NJ, in the 1900s. He was with Beman Symphonie Organ Co. of Binghamton, NY, in 1913 as an incorporator. Presumably he remained with Beman until his retirement, he was still living in Binghamton in 1930.4 Patents held: Patent #1,167,344; 4 Jan. 1916; Automatic Organ Frank A. Pilcher with Myron C. Beman, Binghamton, New York 5 Patent US 1,224,783; 1927 Automatic Musical Instrument Frank A. Pilcher with Myron Beman, and Frank Beman, Binghamton, New York 6 There is another U.S. Patent (Abstract US 814725 A) issued to Frank A. Pilcher in 1904, co-assigned with Frederick Brasor and Samuel S. Porter that lists Pilcher as "a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Marietta, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio," then another in 1906 (Abstract US 814725 A) assigned to Frank A. Pilcher where he is identified as "a citizen of the United States, residing at Marietta, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio," - both patents are for Automatic Musical Instruments. It is likely this is the same person. -Ed. Sources: 1. U.S. Census 1930 2. U.S. Census 1920 3. David H. Fox, A Guide to North America Organ Builders,(Organ Historical Society, 1991) 4. U.S. Census 1930 5. Fox ibid. 6. Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, Volume 238, 1927, p. 236
2016-02-17/2020-04-09 - Editor's Note: No apparent relation to the Henry Pilcher family.
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