Born 1854 England; in United States before 1885; Massachusetts ca. 1885-1932.
Classification: Builder
For further information, see: Cole & Woodberry, and E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings,
We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). -
James Cole was born May 4, 1854 in England; he was an organist. He trained as a voicer with Carlton Michell while still in England. After coming to the United States circa 1880, he started his American career with the firm E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings, of Boston, Massachusetts. Leaving Hook & Hastings in 1886, he partnered with brothers Jesse and James Woodberry in Cole & Woodberry until 1899. He briefly was a partner with Ernest M. Skinner in Skinner & Cole of Boston, Massachusetts, in 1903, lasting six months. He established Cole Church Organ Co. by 1906; was briefly a partner with James E. Treat in Cole & Treat, in 1907. He then established James Cole & Co. of Melrose, Massachusetts; moving to Malden, Massachusetts by 1917, and then to Medford, Massachusetts, in 1925. He was a representative of Welte Organ Co. of New York City, in 1928. The Cole firm was last listed around 1932; he died April 8, 1934 in Melrose, Massachusetts.
NOTE: Cole used several different forms of his name or his corporate name on nameplates. They cannot reliably be used to date instruments.
Staff: Arthur W. Birkmaier; Joseph G. Cooper; Frederick J. Flaherty; John E. Linhares; Frederick I. White.
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