Pepper time line:
1853 James Welsh Pepper born March 8th in Phila.
1845 William C. and Rachel Pepper started as a small print shop in south Philadelphia. Son James (J.W.) Pepper began teaching instrumental music lessons. The companys success is largely attributed to Jamess musical knowledge, business sense and advertising skills. He realized that retailing music goods along with manufacturing, engraving, printing, and publishing gave him a distinct advantage over competitors.
1876 Pepper starts music publishing business at #832 Filbert
1877 The sale of musical instruments was added when Peppers first retail store opened at 832 Filbert Street in Philadelphia.
1880 A New York retail outlet was established at #294 Bowery. He also published a variety of journals, the most noteworthy being the Musical Times and Brass and Reed Band Journal. Both journals featured quickstep marches and instrumental instructional materials.
1881 moved to #234 South 8th St. on Sept 15th; added the sale of band instruments both domestic & imported
1882 brought Henry Distin in to supervise a new factory to be built next to the store. Pepper, along with Henry Distin, moved aggressively into the instrument manufacturing and importing business. It appears that Distin started Peppers Serial number Sequence; son Howard E. Pepper born Sept 11
1883 factory opens on June 1st
1886 Another location was established in Chicago 149 Wabash Ave. The 1880s saw numerous patents secured for Pepper instruments and their various components. Many of his instruments are on display in the National Headquarters in Paoli, Pennsylvania. The company published and developed relationships with many leading composers through the turn of the century, including John Phillip Sousa, Charles Ives, Arthur Pryor, Max Drefus, T.B. Boyer, F. Von Blon, Harry Von Tilzer, W.P. Chambers, H.W. Petrie, and Peppers most prolific arranger/composer, Mackie-Beyer. NYC store probably closes.
1888 Alexandre LeForestier is plant foreman until -1895
1890, a seven story structure located at 8th and Locust Streets in Philadelphia became the companys new home.
1892 W. J. Etwell is the manager at the Chicago store
1894 William Hillyard is a plant foreman until 1896
1893 wins award for band instruments at Chicago Expo.; produces first "Sousaphone" tuba at this time. According to John Phillip Sousa, Pepper manufactured the first sousaphone. In Sousas words, the Sousaphone received its name through the suggestion made by me to J.W. Pepper, the instrument manufacturer in Philadelphia. ... I spoke to Mr. Pepper relative to constructing a bass instrument in which the bell would turn upwards and be adjustable for concert purposes. He built one and, grateful to me for the suggestion, called it a Sousaphone. It was immediately taken up by other instrument makers...
1894 leased rooms at #1004 Chestnut St. for retail store. Pepper became a major supplier to the United States government by outfitting 17 U.S. Navy ships with complete sets of band instruments.
1895 small fire at Chicago store; 147-151 Wabash Ave.
1897 Chicago store closes after May 1
1898 ad shows "Premier - Own Make"" instruments
1901 Caroline, wife of James, was killed by a train accident
1909, the company moved to 33rd and Walnut Streets, and they discontinued its instrument manufacturing operations. However, the company continued to sell from a large inventory.
1910 JW Pepper & Son is incorporated; instruments after this time are only imported.
1918 8-story brick factory at NW corner of 13th & Spring Streets was transferred from James to Howard on July 22; they ended all band instrument sales at about this time
1919 James Pepper died on July 29th, age 66. The company was turned over to his son, Howard E. Pepper.
1927 Pepper moves to #5014 Sansom St.
1930 Howard died at the age of 48, and was succeeded by his wife, Emma.
1941 The company declined until bankruptcy was declared in 1941. A group, headed by Harold W. Burtch, purchased the company. The company became a publisher and retailer of music.
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