James Stewart

inventor piano maker maker partner foreman businessman business partner exporter/dealer

Biography

James Stewart came from Baltimore in 1823 intending to enter partnership with John Osborn but soon quarreled with him; he then proposed partnership to Jonas Chickering instead, and the firm of Stewart & Chickering opened its shop on Tremont Street that year. Dolge describes Stewart as 'one of those restless, unsettled inventors, who needed the methodical and painstaking young Chickering to give to his inventions the practical form.' It became evident that Chickering was both the better workman and the more scientific piano maker of the two. The firm was dissolved in 1826, after which Stewart went to London to take a prominent position with Collard & Collard. No further details of his life are given. From Spillane (1890): James Stewart was a Scotsman who emigrated to Baltimore in 1812 and learned piano-making from the Harpers in that city, where he ran his own business until it was ruined by the industrial panic of 1819. According to Baltimore records he stood very high in the South as a maker, and Spillane credits him as very probably the first manufacturer to export pianofortes out of the United States, having shipped instruments from his Baltimore shop at 'Hanover corner of Conway Street' to Havana as early as 1817 for the West Indian trade. He came to Boston in 1820 and briefly became a partner of John Osborn, but the two quarreled and separated. Stewart, having observed the skill of Osborn's apprentice Jonas Chickering, induced him to become his partner instead; the firm of Stewart & Chickering opened on Tremont Street in 1823 and later moved to 20 Common Street. In 1826 Stewart went to London, where he afterward became noted in connection with the Collard & Collard pianoforte firm. James Stewart was originally a partner of Jonas Chickering in Boston, Massachusetts, under the name Stewart & Chickering. In 1826 he arrived in London carrying two pianofortes bearing the Stewart & Chickering inscription; their general excellence was such manifest proof of Stewart's ability as a part maker that the Collard firm engaged him as foreman of their shop. Stewart held that post for upward of thirty-five years, and Spillane credits his influence with 'moulding' Collard & Collard's piano history along American lines, notably in the firm's improved square piano known as the 'Collardian,' which was long popular in England. Through Stewart, Spillane argues, Collard & Collard's development was shaped by American influences despite the natural conservatism of his English employers. James Stewart was the first business partner of Jonas Chickering in Boston before emigrating to London, where he was well known in piano-making circles. In 1827 he patented a stringing method using one continuous string strung around a single hitch-pin rather than looped or eyed individual strings, a technique that quickly became copied throughout Europe; Spillane notes the idea had already been common practice in Boston since about 1820, crediting Stewart with carrying it to England. Spillane also speculates that Stewart may have informed William Allen in London, directly or indirectly, of Alpheus Babcock's American iron-frame piano and one-piece cast metal plate, since Stewart likely knew of Babcock's invention before leaving Boston. James Stewart, described by the author as meriting fuller treatment elsewhere in the book, trained in John Harper's Baltimore piano shop before beginning his own business there in 1814 at 96 Hanover Street, corner of Conway. He moved to 175 Hanover Street in 1818, remaining at that location only briefly. Stewart achieved fame throughout the South from 1814 until early 1820, at which point his business failed and he relocated to Boston. He is later listed alongside Babcock, Osborn, and Hiskey as one of the makers whose name has been remembered by history, in contrast to the largely forgotten Henry Hartye. James Stewart was granted a United States patent on November 14, 1822, for an improvement in the arrangement of sounding-boards while working in Boston — the second patent issued to a resident of that city since the Patent Office's establishment. Spillane notes that Stewart went on to develop numerous further inventions in connection with the Collard piano firm in London beginning in 1827, and characterizes him as 'by instinct a revolutionist and improver.' James Stewart was a Scotsman who came to Boston from Baltimore and went into partnership with Jonas Chickering's father under the firm name Stewart & Chickering. A piano made by the firm was sold to B. Leeds of Boston on August 15, 1823. Stewart later left Boston for London, where he was appointed foreman at the firm of Collard & Collard. Chickering relates that his father met Stewart again in London in 1851.

Highlights

Came from Baltimore in 1823 to partner with John Osborn, then quarreled with him and instead proposed partnership to Jonas Chickering
Formed the firm of Stewart & Chickering on Tremont Street in 1823, dissolved in 1826
After the dissolution, went to London to take a prominent position with Collard & Collard
Originally a partner of Jonas Chickering in Boston, trading as Stewart & Chickering
Arrived in London from Boston in 1826 carrying two Stewart & Chickering pianofortes whose excellence won him a position as foreman of the Collard & Collard shop
Served as foreman at Collard & Collard for upward of thirty-five years, introducing American design ideas into the firm's instruments, including the popular 'Collardian' improved square
Was the first business partner of Jonas Chickering in Boston.
Emigrated to London and was granted an 1827 patent for a continuous single-string stringing method already practiced in Boston since about 1820.
May have transmitted knowledge of Alpheus Babcock's American iron-frame piano and metal-plate patent to William Allen in London.
Reputed to be very probably the first American manufacturer to export pianofortes abroad, shipping instruments from Baltimore to Havana as early as 1817.
Partnered briefly with John Osborn in Boston, then formed Stewart & Chickering with Jonas Chickering in 1823.
Left for London in 1826, where he became noted in connection with the Collard & Collard pianoforte firm.
Granted a US patent Nov 14, 1822, for an improved sounding-board arrangement while working in Boston
Later worked with the Collards of London from 1827, developing further inventions
Trained in John Harper's Baltimore shop before starting his own business
Began business in Baltimore in 1814 at 96 Hanover Street, corner of Conway, later moving to 175 Hanover Street in 1818
Famous throughout the South from 1814 until he failed in early 1820 and relocated to Boston
A Scotsman who partnered with Jonas Chickering's father under the firm name Stewart & Chickering
A piano from the firm was sold to B. B. Leeds of Boston on August 15, 1823
Later moved to London and became foreman at Collard & Collard's, meeting George H. Chickering's father again there in 1851

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), p. 270.

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 30, 31, 32, 43, 57, 58, 85, 127, 129, 157, 158.

Public domain.

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