Harley Hosford

Biography

Harley Hosford was listed as a musical instrument-maker at 97 State Street in Albany's first city directory. He made organs and pianofortes on a small scale and was known in relation to pianofortes in Albany as early as 1810. He was also a music teacher and was likely connected, to some extent, with musical progress in the city after the turn of the century. As far as can be determined, Hosford was the first maker of pianos in Albany, although his involvement in the business was of an insignificant character. Nothing is known of his subsequent fate.

Highlights

• Listed as a musical instrument-maker at 97 State Street in Albany's first city directory; known in relation to pianofortes there as early as 1810
• Made organs and pianofortes on a small scale and also worked as a music teacher
• Regarded as the first maker of pianos in Albany, though his role in the business was insignificant; his later fate is unknown

Source

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), p. 138.

Public domain.