John Heald, was a maker of brass band instruments in Springfield Mass. from 1882-1920. Heald was born July 3rd 1843 in Atkinson N.H. to, Elizabeth & Paul Heald. Although not as well remembered as some of his contemporaries, in his day he was a renowned maker of brass instruments particularly the cornet.
Healds notebook not only contains information about the, John Heald Co. but also details of his life, and interactions with Huchins, and Distin. There are, papers photographs, and newspaper clippings. Some have nothing to do with the manufacture of band instruments, but must have been significant to him, which is sufficient reason to include them. In so far as possible things are in chronological order. I hope this will help interested parties connect the dots of his life.
Two John Heald cornets from the Heald Family collection. The lower instrument was a presentation instrument engraved: Presented to Theron D. Perkins by his Friends. Lynn Mass Nov. 2nd 1889. A close up of the engraving can be seen further down the page.
Receipt for purchase of a burial plot, in the name of, Judith Rowe
Letter to John Heald from his brother Benjamin Heald. Dated 1869
John Heald, Frank Stone, Worcester Mass. 1870
Placard advertising, Clelland and Healds, Quadrille Band. 1870
Below are smaller cards for the, Quadrille band, and Orchestra
Isaac Fiske 1870 catalogue
Issac Fiske was a maker of primarily brass instruments, during the second half of the 19th century. Fiske was a contemporary and sometimes colleague of the the other makers in that era.
Browse our Swag Shop for Issac Fiske items.
The American Band of Worcester Mass. 1871
1871, Atkinson Academy catalog. Listing Benjamin Heald as student
Future Mrs. John Heald
probably, John Heald
Agreement to purchase 10 instruments from Issac Fisk for the, National Band of Worcester. April 16th 1872
Warranty Deed, between Elizabeth Heald (mother?) and John Heald, February 6th 1875, Worcester Mass
Terms of employment between, C.W. Hutchins and John Heald. Heald to be payed $4 per day. May 15th 1882
Note to John Heald from C.W. Hutchins, informing him that he can’t pay him until Monday.
Charles Willard Hutchins 1860-1926, was an innovative manufacturer of musical instruments. For a while John Heald was employed by Hutchins, there’s a document in this collection dated 1882, specifying terms and compensation. There is also an note to Heald explaining that he can’t pay him until monday.
Hutchins fans can find C.W. Hutchins coffee mugs T-shirts and more in our e-commerce store. Click the blue link below
For 45 years, The Outrageous Comical Brown, toured the New England states. In 1885 Brown published, Comical Browns Songster, a collection of his best jokes and racy songs.
Thanks to the miracle of e-commerce, Comical Brown fans can find, t-shirts and hoodies with the front and back cover of the Songster on the front and back, coffee mugs and more.
Click the blue link below and browse around
Letter of offer from Isaac Fisk to John Heald. November 5th 1886
John Heald, date unknown
This Photo of John Heald is available on a variety of items in the e-commerce store
Date unknown
Maybe Heald was a Shriner. Whatever the reason this clip was in his notebook
York, advertisement from 1916
The York company founded in 1884, by James Warren York, was a contemporary of Heald
William Brittain, Was an employee of John Heald. He may have purchased the company from Heald
C.G. Conn & pictures of instruments
Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore was the mega star of the late 1800’s. How mega you ask? For starters he wrote the lyrics to, When Johnny Comes Marching home, and introduced the saxophone to American audiences.
Fans of P.S. Gilmore (and everyone should be) Will find his image on many items in our, Swag Shop. my personal favorite is the throw pillow. The blue link below will take you straight to the Gilmore page
John Phillip Sousa, 1854-1932 aka The March King. Everyone has heard Sousa marches, and if you were one of us band geeks in school you know the names of a lot of them.
Click the blue link below and vist the John Phillip Sousa page where you can peruse, T-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and ever popular throw pillow most emblazoned on both sides with the litho above
Benjamin Vereecken was a saxophone star of the early 20th century, and performed with the bands of Sousa, Clarke, Pryor, and the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Vereecken was also a composer & educator, his: Foundation to Saxophone Playing, is still in use today.
Several issues of Musicians Monthly Magazine 1908
