Maker/Dealer
Imperial Instrument Co.
Williamsport, PA
USA
1922 - 1935
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.
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