Freeborn Garrettson Smith

Biography

Freeborn Garrettson Smith was described as a peculiar character with many strong traits. He learned his trade in Baltimore and worked for a time in Chickering's factory. In 1861 he became superintendent for William B. Bradbury, a musician who had bought an interest in Lighte & Newton (established 1848); when Bradbury dissolved his partnership with Lighte, Smith proved a good factory manager. After Bradbury's death in 1867, Smith bought the business, continuing it under the Bradbury name, and his commercial instincts made him a more successful distributor than maker of pianos. He published a testimonial from the preacher T. DeWitt Talmage praising the Bradbury piano's sweet tone. Smith was among the first in the trade to open warerooms selling directly to the public rather than through dealers, and was counted among the wealthiest men in the piano trade, having built his fortune through thrift, energy, and business ability. From Spillane (1890): F. G. Smith became superintendent of the Bradbury piano business and, from 1867, succeeded to W. B. Bradbury's interest and goodwill, becoming the sole manufacturer of the instrument bearing that name. Described as possessing 'two-edged ability,' both technical and commercial, Smith is credited as author of many of the improvements adopted in the Bradbury piano while also directing the firm's business policy, leaving shop superintendence to Mr. Karr. The text credits him with personally directing and controlling more retail branch warerooms than any other pianoman in the United States, noting that while others found one concern difficult to manage, Smith 'thinks little of undertaking them per quantum.' Smith is named as the New York manufacturer who, in 1871, brought A. James under contract to superintend the manufacture of his instruments. No further biographical detail about Smith is given in this passage; the text moves on to describe James's subsequent partnership with Mr. Holmstrom in 1873. Spillane's appendix of United States piano-trade patents lists F. Smith of Brooklyn as patentee of a Pianoforte, No. 385,380, issued July 3, 1888. No other biographical detail about Smith is provided in this text.

Highlights

• Learned his trade in Baltimore and worked in Chickering's factory before becoming superintendent for William B. Bradbury in 1861
• Bought the Bradbury business after Bradbury's 1867 death, continuing the Bradbury name
• Among the first to open direct-to-public warerooms; counted among the wealthiest men in the piano trade
• Became superintendent of the Bradbury piano and succeeded to W. B. Bradbury's interest and goodwill in the business in 1867.
• Author of many improvements adopted in the Bradbury piano.
• Credited with personally directing and controlling more retail branch warerooms than any other pianoman in the United States.
• Contracted A. C. James in 1871 to superintend the manufacture of his instruments in New York
• Patented a Pianoforte (No. 385,380), Brooklyn, July 1888

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), p. 315.

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 248, 249, 275.

Public domain.