Pipe Organ Database

See also: Henry Erben and J. Edward Schad

Note from the Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, August 20, 2017. —

Born in Philadelphia, probably served apprenticeship with his older brother Thomas. In partnership with Wilfred (Welford) Hall in Philadelphia before 1825. With his brother Thomas in New York City 1826. Returned to Philadelphia 1827. Relocated to Baltimore in 1845, from 1853 to 1866 he was an agent for Henry Erben's branch in that city.

Source:
Stephen Pinel, "Hall, James (1803-1888)" in The Organ: An Encyclopedia edited by Douglas Bush & Richard Kassel (Utah and New York: Psychology Press, 2006), 238. We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on September 27, 2019.

Note from the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va., Organ Historical Society, 1991). —

Brother of Thomas S. and Welford Hall¹, grandfather of J. Edward Schad and Walter Schad; partner with Welford Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 1825; with Thomas Hall firm of New York City, New York, by 1826; in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1829-1843; operated firm in Baltimore, Maryland, 1845, firm acquired by Henry Erben of New York City, 1845, Hall remained as superintendent; After his departure from the Erben firm, he again formed his own business, this time in partnership with his grandson J. Edward Schad. James Hall Co was established in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1884, and was last listed in 1928².

Editor's notes:

1. According to Stephen Pinel (see below), Welford may have been a cousin.
2. Hall died in 1888 (Pinel), the firm was continued by Schad.

Sources:

• Orpha Ochse, The History of the Organ in the United States (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975), 174, 292.
• Piano and Organ Purchaser's Guide, Purchaser's Guide to the Music Industries, (New York: Music Trades)
• Stephen L. Pinel.
• John Speller.
• Thomas S. Eader, "The Baltimore Organ Builders", The Tracker 2:3 (Richmond, Va., Organ Historical Society, 1958), 3.
• Stephen L. Pinel, "Organbuilders and Their Families: in the Population Schedules of the Federal and State Census Surveys", The Tracker: 32:1 (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1988), 24.
• Thomas S. Eader, "The Baltimore Organ Builders' Story" part 4, The Tracker 3:3, (Richmond, Va., Organ Historical Society, 1959), 4.