Horn-u-Copia's Display of Makers

C. E. Kaempf’s Business was purchased in 1911 by C. E. Ridgely.

• 1848 Reinhard Kaempf born in Germany
• 1870 emigrated to US
• 1872 Clifford Eugene Ridgely is born in Jeromsville, OH
• 1878 Kaempfestablished brass instrument business in NYC
• 1881 Kaempf not shown in Phillip’s directory
• 1883 R. A. Kaempf, musical inst maker, 180 Chrystie St.
• 1894 Ridgely marries Malinda (Linna) in Ashland, OH
• 1897 Ridgely’s daughter Helen is born in Indianapolis, IN; wife dies the same year so probably complications from birth; he is notlisted in the Indianapolis city directories at this time soperhaps was just visiting
• 1899 R. Kaempf, brass musical inst, 3 workers
• 1900 Ridgely’s daughter Helen is living with grandparents in Ashland
• 1902 R. A. Kaempf, musical inst, 297 Bowery
• 1904 Reinhard Kaempf dies on January 27th, age 55
• 1906 R. A. Kaempf & Son, 297 Broadway (probably supposed to be Bowery), Reinhard & Albert
• 1909 R. A. Kaempf & Son, 336 E. 86th St., Albert only
• 1910 Albert C. Kaempf, musical inst, 336 E. 86th St.Clifford Ridgely living at #174 E. 75th St. in Manhattan; theater musician; married to Minnie (from Ireland) in 1899
• 1911 business is sold to C. E. Ridgely #336 E. 86th St.; Albert Kaempf works for Keefer until his death in 1917

• 1913 CER, musical instrument manuf., #1503 3rd St., NYC; daughter Helen dies this year in Ashland
• 1915 CER, musical inst., #1503 3rd St., h. #171 E. 75th St.
• 1918 Lieut. CER, musical director & inst. manufacturer, #1503 3rd Ave., home at #167 E. 83rd St.; he is the bandmaster for the 69th Regiment Band, NY Guard, and is running ads for equipping local bands with instruments; he is a WWI veteran with the 69th Regiment (photo 1)
• 1920 #1503 3rd St; Ridgely Columbia model trumpet = $100
• 1921 Lieut. CER, bandmaster of the 69th Reg.
• 1925-1931 listed as Prof. CE Ridgely of the 69th Regiment Band
• 1927 the 69th does two Victor record recordings
• 1928 member of the Association of Musical Instrument Dealers
• 1930 now living at #167 83rd St., Manhattan
• 1932 still bandmaster of the 69th in October
• 1937 wife Minnie dies, home at #120 E. 83rd St.
• 1940 #120 E. 83rd St., Bandmaster of NY Post Office
• 1944 Clifford dies and is buried in Ashland, Ohio

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