Chronology
compiled by Robbie Rhodes
"There was never any consistency in the names
for the
Welte-Mignon instruments, nor for the firm."
-- Chas. D. Smith
1837 Michel Welte born, in Voehrenbach, Baden, Germany
1832 Michel Welte founds his own firm in Voehrenbach.
1865 Emil Welte moves to USA, founds M. Welte & Sons, Inc.,
in New York City.
1876 Edwin Welte born to Berthold Welte, son of Micheal Welte
1872 Michel Welte moves his business, M. Welte & Soehne,
to Freiburg
1878 Karl Bockisch born, in Alsace; he married Edwin Welte's
sister.
1883 U.S. Patent No. 287,559[?] granted to Emil Welte, Oct. 30,1883,
for pneumatic player system using paper music rolls
1887~ paper music roll system installed in Welte instruments
1091 Edwin Welte and Karl Bockisch working on the "Mignon" system
1904 Edwin Welte preieres the Welte-Mignon keyboardless cabinet
piano in New York City and St. Louis
1905 First music rolls sold
1906 Edwin Welte establishes his own firm in New York City
1912 Edwin Welte begins construction of factory in Poughkeepsie,
New York.
1912 Edwin Welte and Emil Welte reorganize as M. Welte &
Sons, Inc.; Edwin is named president.
1913 Poughkeepsie factory is opened and production begins of
Welte Mignon pianos and music rolls
1914 Patent application of May 1914 "interference" ... Stoddard
19xx Heinrich Bockisch, brother of Karl Bockisch, moves to USA. He was factory manager at Poughkeepsie and later became president of M. Welte & Sons, Inc
[index]
Compilation copyright 2002 by Robbie Rhodes and Mechanical Music Digest
rev. 14 August 2002