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Archival Collections ➔ Archival Collection #004 - A. J. "Bill" Johnson
Identifier:
1986.89_0001Description:
Archival Collection #004 - A. J. "Bill" Johnson contains photographs from Alfred J. "Bill" Johnson. He worked for the York Band Instrument Company, and then formed his own business, Musical Instrument Exchange on Division Avenue, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It includes photos of the Furniture City Band, American Legion Band from Post No. 6 of Holland, Michigan, and Chas E. And Frank W. York. Moreover, there are photographs pertaining to band instruments and performers. This collection is a sub-group of the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s holdings that pertain to the York Band Instrument Company, which also includes photographs of the manufacturing of the instruments and musical instruments themselves. There are 0.35 cubic feet of photographs that span the time period of 1910-1914.A full listing of the contents of this collection can be found in the Finding Aid that is attached to the media section of this catalog entry.
Date:
1910 – 1914Current Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift Of Mrs. Jean and Robert G. Robertson ConklinRelated Entities:
Robertson, Mrs. Jean and Conklin, Robert G. (donor) A.J. Bill Johnson (is related to)Alternate names: A. J. Bill Johnson
Alfred J. (Bill) Johnson was a noted local musician and vice president of the former York Band Instrument Company in Grand Rapids.
Mr. Johnson began his musical career in 1891, playing a cornet given to him by the Press Newsboys Band. He started working for York in 1895 as a janitor and worked with way up through the ranks to become vice-president, a post he held until retirement in 1946.
Upon his retirement at 65, Mr. Johnson founded the Musical Instrument Exchange Co. in Grand Rapids, which repaired and appraised instruments, specializing in violins. He operated the business until his death in 1972.
A life member of Doric Lodge No. 342, F. & A.M., Mr. Johnson was also a member of the former Furniture City Band, the Holland American Legion Band, the Grand Rapids Federation of Musicians, the Saladin Shrine and the Acoustical Society of America.
Source: Grand Rapids Press York Band Instrument Company (creator)
Alternate names: J. W. York and Company, York & Son, York & Sons
The York Band Instrument Company was a musical instrument manufacturer in Grand Rapids, Michigan that manufactured a full line of brass instruments including trumpets, cornets, horns, trombones, helicons, baritone horns, sousaphones, and tubas. The company also imported and sold woodwinds and strings as stenciled instruments. Instruments made prior to 1940 are more prized, having been manufactured in the original Grand Rapids factory, however, instruments post-1940 may have been outsourced to other companies.
The York Band Instrument Company was founded in 1882 by James Warren York in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company merged with Smith and York in 1883 and York and Holton in 1885 which eventually reformed to create J.W. York and Company. In 1887, the company name was changed to York & Son and a year later, the name was changed to York & Sons. These name changes were to accomodate Charles and Frank York, sons of J. W. York. The company was later renamed the York Band Instrument Company in 1926 and was sold to Carl Fisher in 1940 after a decline in product sales due to the Great Depression. The company went out of business in 1964 and the brand was sold to Tolchin Instruments in 1970. In 1971, the original Grand Rapids factory was closed and the brand was sold again in 1976 to Booksey & Hawkes.