Fife, 1830-1850

Samuel Graves Jr. began manufacturing musical instruments in New England in the 1820s. Factory workers used lathes to shape the wood, metal, and ivory components of the woodwind instruments that were his company's mainstay in its early years. Instruments such as fifes, flutes, piccolos, and clarinets were the foundation of military and local bands before newly invented key and valve brass instrument became popular.