Charles Albrecht

Biography

Charles Albrecht began making pianofortes in Philadelphia sometime before 1789, producing instruments regarded as excellent for their time; several survive, including one dated 1789 held by the Pennsylvania Historical Society and another, made about the same period, presented by the late Mr. Drexel to the New York Museum of Art. The Drexel example has a finely finished and inlaid case that Spillane calls almost a work of art, reflecting Albrecht's skill and original design sense; his instruments were copies, with improvements, of pianos then imported from London. Albrecht first appears in the Philadelphia city directory in 1791 as a joiner, and in subsequent years as a musical instrument maker, continuing in business until 1824-25, latterly at 3 South Third Street. Spillane presumes he was German. Christian F. L. Albrecht, likely his son, continued the family name in the trade from 1825 until 1842.

Highlights

• Made pianofortes in Philadelphia before 1789; an instrument dated 1789 is held by the Pennsylvania Historical Society.
• A second Albrecht piano, with a finely inlaid case, was presented by the late Mr. Drexel to the New York Museum of Art.
• Listed in the Philadelphia city directory from 1791 (as a joiner, later as musical instrument maker) continuously until 1824-25.

Source

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 77, 78, 80.

Public domain.