Note from the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va., Organ Historical Society, 1991). Edited for the revised OHS Online Database website, 2017. -

Firm established by Elias and George G. Hook in Salem, Massachusetts, 1827 as E. & G. G. Hook; firm relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, 1831.

E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings established by Elias Hook, George G. Hook and Frank Hastings in Boston, Massachusetts, 1872; firm headed by Hastings after 1881 as Hook & Hastings; firm relocated to Kendal Green, Massachusetts, 1889; incorporated, 1895; liquidated, 1936.

Staff: Anderson; Nicolas Svendson Bach; (J. L. Bamford?); Henry Bartlett; Moritz Baumgarten, Jr.; Robert J. Bennett; Paul L. Benz; Martin P. Berg; Carrol Berry; James L. Bickforth; Arthur Bolton; Henry W. Bowen; Joseph Brady; William A. Braithwaite; A. W. Brodrick; Richard J. Brooks; Albert L. Brown; Cadwater; Frederick Campkin; Victor Carlson; Chaffin; Joseph Chase; Jas. L. Clark; Arthur L. Coburn; James Cogswell; James Cole; Joseph Cooper; John H. Corrie; Andrew DeCourcy; Alfred C. Earle; Frederick J. Flaherty; C. B. Floyd; Arthur Gilson; William C. Greenwood; William E. Greenwood; Charles W. Griffiths; John Guthrie; Harry Hall; Samuel S. Hamill; Herbert C. Harrison; Anna C. Hastings; Henry P. Holland; Frederick Clapp Hook; George S. Hutchings; Norman Jacobsen; Henry D. Kimball; William B. King; Jaeger; E. J. Kilburn; Edward J. King; Stephen P. Kinsley; Edward Lahaise; Erasme Lahasie; Henri Lahaise; Horace Lahaise; Emory Warren Lane; William W. Laws; Octavius Marshall; Irving E. Maynard; (Merrwagen?); M. H. Millard; Franz A. Moesch; Charles H. Moor; George A. North; Andrew Olson; Conrad Olson; J. Olson; Samuel Pierce; Mark H. Plaisted; Charles S. Plumer; Henry J. Poole; Alfred R. Pratt; Thomas J. Quinlan; Roland Rand; C. C. Richards; Charles Richards; George S. Richards; George H. Ryder; Scott; Shellard & McCraith; William B. D. Simmons; Hans Steinmeyer; Henry Strum; Edward A. Tilton; Thomas R. Todd; Harry F. Van Wart; Melvin Weber; Charles J. Whittaker; John Henry Willcox; J. B. Wilson; James Woodberry; Jesse Woodberry; Charles F. Winder; Carl T. Young; George Zimmer.

Note from the Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, May 27, 2017. -

Brothers Elias and George G. Hook established their own firm as E. & G. G. Hook of Salem, Massachusetts. The firm was relocated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1831. The Hook brothers had apprenticed with the organ builder William Goodrich prior to opening their own shop. By 1860, the firm was the largest organ builder in the United States.

Francis Hastings joined the Hook firm in 1855, taking a leave of absence from 1862-1865 for military service during the Civil War. He became a junior partner in 1866 with purchase of $6,666 note from Hook brothers. He subsequently became a full partner in 1871, and the nameplate of the company changed to E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings ca. 1871-1872.

For further information, see Hook & Hastings.

Sources:

• Compiled from entries in the Organ Database by the editor with additional material supplied by Scott Huntington.
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Note from the Organ Database Builders Listing editor Stephen Hall, May 27, 2017. -

After leaving Hook and Hastings, various staff members would form their own firms:

• James Cole, as his own firm in Medford, Massachusetts, 1917-1932; and with James Woodberry and Jesse Woodberry; as Cole & Woodberry 1886-1899.
• Harry Hall as Harry Hall Co. Hamden, Connecticut.
• George H. Ryder firm established 1870 Boston.
• Hans Steinmeyer partnership with H. W. Muller in Muller & Steinmeyer of Toledo, Ohio, 1913-1920
• John Henry Willcox partnership with George Fischer (1855/56); then a partnership with another former Hook & Hastings staff member William Simmons in Simmons & Willcox (1858-1861); and finally forming J. H. Willcox & Co. with Hook & Hastings alumnae George S. Hutchings and Mark H. Plaisted.
• After Willcox retired in 1872, George Hutchings and Mark Plaisted formed the successor company Hutchings, Plaisted & Co. When Plaisted left, Hutchings established George S. Hutchings & Co. of Boston, MA, 1884; his firm merged with Votey Co. as Hutchings-Votey Organ Co., 1901-1908; and finally he partnered with Emory W. Lane (another former Hook & Hastings worker) in Hutchings Organ Co. of Waltham, Massachusetts, 1908–1911.

Sources:

• Compiled from entries in the Organ Database by the editor.
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