E. Chapuis

Biography

E. Chapuis, mentioned in connection with Alfred Dolge, is reputed by Spillane to have been the first to manufacture hammer felt in the United States; prior to his arrival in 1854, all piano hammer felts were imported. A native of France, he was in business in the United States until 1862, when he returned to Europe. He came back to the United States in 1873 and resumed felt-making in Paterson, New Jersey, where he was joined by Harvey S. Crane, who later became his successor, and together they formed the firm of Crane & Chapuis.

Highlights

• Reputed to have been the first to make hammer felt in the United States; before his arrival in 1854 all felts were imported
• A native of France who was in business in the U.S. until 1862, when he returned to Europe
• Returned to the United States in 1873 and, joined by Harvey S. Crane, formed Crane & Chapuis to make felt in Paterson, N.J.

Source

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), p. 328.

Public domain.