2004-10-30/2020-04-09 - From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North America Organ Builders by David H. Fox (Organ Historical Society, 1991). Updated and revised using information from Bynum Petty, OHS Archivist, and author, Henry Pilcher's Sons: Opus List and Historical Sketch, (OHS Press 2014) -- -- William E. Pilcher, Jr. was born 28 May 1897 in Louisville, KY; he was the son of William Edward Pilcher Sr., grandson of Henry Pilcher [II], and great-grandson of Henry Pilcher [I], the first Pilcher to build organs in the U.S. He was the fourth generation of organ builders in the Pilcher family, and the last one to head a firm under the Pilcher name. William E. Pilcher, Jr. attended Manual High School, Oberlin College, and Northwestern University. He studied organ with David McKay Williams in New York City, NY. He was with Henry Pilcher's Sons of Louisville, KY, following his father and grandfather in the Louisville branch of the family business. He eventually became head of the firm, but the most successful of the Pilcher enterprises was a victim of the double blow of the Great Depression and the second World War. After selling the remaining assets of the firm to the M. P. Moller firm of Hagerstown, MD, in 1944, he became a representative of Moller. Fox also lists him as a representative of "M. P. Moller Co., Pilcher Division, in Charlotte, NC, in 1952" (unconfirmed). William continued as an organist as well as sale representative; he died 28 February, 1968 in Charlotte, NC.
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