Pipe Organ Database

From the OHS Database Builders Listing editor, June 3, 2016. —

John Vaché Pilcher was born circa 1862 in St. Louis, Missouri; the fourth son of Henry Pilcher [II], His brothers were Henry W., Paul B., Robert E., and William E. Pilcher. His unusual middle name came from his aunt Eliza's husband, John Vaché Cox. Although he was only with family firm of Henry Pilcher & Sons of Louisville, Kentucky, for a few years, he would have a major impact on keeping the company solvent during the depression. After leaving the organ world, John had started a manufacturing firm that produced women's fashion items: cigarette cases, compacts, and other make-up containers. John sub-contracted Henry Pilcher's Sons to make these items and the packing cases in which to ship them. This provided enough income to keep the company operating during the earliest, most severe period of the depression. John Vaché Pilcher died June 21, 1933.

Sources:

• David H. Fox, "John Vaché Pilcher", A Guide to North American Organbuilders (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, rev. ed. 1997), 235.

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

Born c. 1862 in St. Louis, Missouri; son of Henry Pilcher [Jr.], brother of Henry W., Paul B., Robert E., and William E. Pilcher; in family firm of Henry Pilcher & Sons of Louisville, Kentucky, 1879; died June 21, 1933.

Patents:

• Patent #497,206; May 9 1893; stop action.
• Patent #498,362; May 30, 1893; pneumatic action.
• Patent #519,389; May 8, 1894; automatic coupler for organ.

Sources:

• One or more local directories of the place and period.
• Pilcher family records.
• Organ Handbook 1986 (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society), 20.
• Elizabeth Towne Schmitt. 
• [Information taken from the text of the United States patents listed above.]