Harry B. Tremaine

Biography

Harry B. Tremaine was born in Brooklyn in 1866 to educated, cultured parents, and unlike many self-made 'captains of industry' of the era, he insisted on pursuing a high-school education rather than leaving school early for a trade. In 1898 he took charge of the Aeolian Company as its president, building on the foundation his father William B. Tremaine had laid and on Edwin Votey's perfected Pianola. He secured large amounts of outside capital, launched an aggressive advertising campaign for the Pianola that startled the established piano trade, and is credited with popularizing the player piano. He recruited able men including Perkins, Votey, and Kelly, associated with the Weber and Steck pianos, and arranged for Steinway's exclusive use of the Pianola. He expanded sales into Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia, and built Aeolian Hall in New York. In 1903 he organized the Aeolian, Weber Piano & Pianola Company, capitalized at $10,000,000, controlling subsidiaries in New York, London, Berlin, Paris, Melbourne, and Sydney, employing about 5,000 people, with total capital under his direction reaching $15,500,000. He is described as a genius organizer, forceful and aggressive yet personally retiring and averse to publicity.

Highlights

• Born in Brooklyn in 1866, son of William B. Tremaine; took charge of the Aeolian Company as president in 1898
• In 1903 organized the Aeolian, Weber Piano & Pianola Company, capitalized at $10,000,000 and controlling numerous subsidiary companies with about 5,000 employees
• Built Aeolian Hall in New York and expanded sales into Europe, Asia, South America and Australia; credited with popularizing the player piano

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 329, 333.

Public domain.