Horn-u-Copia's Display of Makers

Formed in August of 1922. It was located at 643 Elmira St. in Williamsport. In 1926 the business was moved to 3 Maynard St. in South Williamsport which is just across the Susquehanna River. They were in business until 1935.

It is believed-but not proven-that some ex-employees of Keefer were involved and that the factory assembled parts made elseware.

A 1926 ad in the South Williamsport High School yearbook has the following:

Imperial Band Inst. Mfg. Co. Gold Tone Instruments are made especially for School Bands and Orchestras

• 1922 The Imperial Band Instrument Mfg. Co. is incorporated August 28th and purchased the former Villinger Mfg. Co. plant at #643 Elmira St. in Williamsport (top photo). (Villinger did lathe & milling work, polishing & plating)
  
  Charles W. Mink: (1887-1946) president; born in Russia and came to the US in 1888; naturalized in 1914; listed as president of a wood pipe company in 1930 and by 1940 is a private attorney
  
  Felice N. Galetti: (1867-?) vice-president; born in Italy and came to the US in 1886; naturalized in 1899; listed as tool maker and machinist; Brua Keefer signed his 1914 passport application saying that he knew him for 25 years which matches with the 1922 announcement that he had been a band instrument maker since 1888.
  
  Harry A. Fischer: (1879-1959) secretary; cornet player, salesman for Imperial, and former band instrument tester for US government
  
  George I. Reeder: treasurer
• 1926 Imperial moves to #3 Maynard St., S. Williamsport
• 1930 Imperial Band Instrument Co. is listed
• 1935 Imperial closes business

Brass instruments sometimes are the ‘Gold Tone’ model. Trumpet serial numbers go at least into the 800s and often have a threaded tuning slide adjuster.

---

Contribute new Data (or Corrections):

Information posted here will be added to this page.

This is not the place to ask questions, as users will only occasionally visit a particular Maker's
page. Pease use the forum to ask questions or talk about your instrument.
(Please use the forum for discussions, questions, etc.)