2004-10-30/2019-11-23 - Note from the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). - Born in England; father of Charles F. Smith; with Peter Conacher & Co. of England, age 13; with Hope-Jones firm of Birkenhead, England, 1892; followed Robert Hope-Jones to the United States., 1903; with Hope-Jones Organ Co. of Elmira, New York, c. 1908, installation, rebuilding; with Rudolph Wurlitzer Manufacturing Co. of North Tonawanda, New York, 1910; established his own firm in North Tonawanda, New York, 1912; partner with Justus P. Seeburg in Seeburg-Smith Co. of Chicago, Illinois, 1916-1921; established Smith Unit Organ Co. of Chicago, Illinois, 1921; firm relocated to Geneva, Illinois, 1924, and renamed Geneva Organ Co., 1924; established Frederick W. Smith & Sons Pneumatic Organ Co. of Oakland, California, 1924; active in Alameda, California, 1926; manufactured instruments under Leathurby-Smith name with George H. Leathurby; firm closed 1928. Staff: Theodore Strong, W. N. Chapin of Berkley, Lawrence Milton. Patent #1,188,851; 27 Jun. 1916; electropneumatic action Patent #1,231,212; 26 Jun. 1917; electropneumatic action Sources: The Console News letter of the Theater Organ Society, November 1969. The Diapason April 1924, 18. The Diapason January 1926, 12. David Junchen, Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1 (Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985), 137. David Junchen, Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 2 (Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1989), 613. Wurlitzer Co. Letters. [Information taken from the text of the United States patents listed above.]
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