William J. Lenz Piano Tuning Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Everett Piano Company
label: Creator
content: Hammacher, Schlemmer & Company
label: Creator
content: Chickering & Sons Piano Company
label: Creator
content: Pratt, Read and Company
label: Creator
content: Wood & Brooks Company
label: Creator
content: Otto R. Trefz, Jr., & Company
label: Creator
content: Piano Parts Mfg. Co.
label: Creator
content: Lynn & Healy Company
label: Creator
content: Lang, C. H., & Company
label: Collector
content: Lenz, William J. (piano technician)
label: Creator
content: Wurlitzer Company
label: Names
content: American Guild of Piano Tuners
label: Names
content: American Society of Piano Technicians
label: Names
content: National Association of Piano Tuners
topic: label: Topic
content: Trade unions -- Musicians -- 1900-1960
label: Topic
content: Trade and professional associations -- 1900-1960
label: Topic
content: Organ (Musical instrument) -- 1900-1960
label: Topic
content: Repairing
label: Topic
content: Piano -- tuning -- 1900-1960
label: Topic
content: Piano -- Maintenance and repair -- 1900-1960
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by University of Pennsylvania,through The Curtis Organ Restoration Society, May 24, 1994.
creator: label: Creator
content: Everett Piano Company
label: Creator
content: Hammacher, Schlemmer & Company
label: Creator
content: Chickering & Sons Piano Company
label: Creator
content: Pratt, Read and Company
label: Creator
content: Wood & Brooks Company
label: Creator
content: Otto R. Trefz, Jr., & Company
label: Creator
content: Piano Parts Mfg. Co.
label: Creator
content: Lynn & Healy Company
label: Creator
content: Lang, C. H., & Company
label: Collector
content: Lenz, William J. (piano technician)
label: Creator
content: Wurlitzer Company
setName: label: See more items in
content: William J. Lenz Piano Tuning Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: Advertisements, catalogs, repair manuals, union materials, and technical drawings related to pianos and piano tuning (companies and organizations listed below). While providing a window into a profession that spans both science and music, this collection contains information concerning economic changes, advertising, trade associations, and technical advances.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Born sometime before 1890, Lenz spent most if not all of his life in Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked as a piano tuner and technician. Judging from materials in the collection, it is likely that he was a member of the National Association of Piano Tuners, and later the American Society of Piano Technicians. He probably died in the mid-1950s.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.25 Cubic feet (2 boxes, 1 oversized folder)
unitdate: label: Date
content: ca. 1903-1955.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0511
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Catalogs
label: Type
content: Manufacturers' catalogs
label: Type
content: Clippings
label: Type
content: Technical drawings
label: Type
content: Pamphlets
label: Type
content: Advertisements
label: Type
content: Correspondence
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Divided into 5 series.

Series 1: William Lenz, 1925-1955

Series 2: Piano Tuners' Societies and Associations, ca. 1914-1954

Series 3: Piano Tuning and Playing, 1927-1953

Series 4: Manufacturers and Distributors of Parts and Tools, circa 1903-1952

Series 5: Manufacturers of Pianos, 1946-1955
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Micheal Randers-Pehrson, November 6, 1996.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Catalogs -- 1900-1960
label: Genre/Form
content: Manufacturers' catalogs -- 1900-1960
label: Genre/Form
content: Clippings -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Technical drawings -- 1900-1960
label: Genre/Form
content: Pamphlets -- 1900-1960
label: Genre/Form
content: Advertisements -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 20th century
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The William Lenx Piano Tuning Collection contains advertisements, catalogs, repair manuals, union materials, and technical drawings related to pianos and piano tuning. The collection is divided into five series. These series are William Lenx, Piano Tuners Societies and Associations, Piano Tuning and Playing, Manufacturers and Distributors of Parts, Supplies and Tools, and Manufacturers of Pianos. 

Included in the collection are a number of manuscript technical drawings by Lenz of the mechanics of trackers organ from 1925. The piano supple catalogs date from c. 1903 to 1952 and document changing prices fro parts and the development of piano technology.  The Piano Tuners Society and association publications and correspondence include materials form the 
American Guild of Piano Tuners, the National Association of Piano tuners, and the American Society of Piano Technicians (also known as the American Society of Piano Tuner-Technicians).

While providing a window into a profession that spanned the fields of both science and music, the William Lenx Collection contains information concerning economic changed, 
advertising, trade associations, and technical advancement.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials in the Archives Center

Pratt-Read Company Records, 1893-1990 (NMAH.AC.320)

Steinway Piano Company Collection, 1850-1906, 1953 (NMAH.AC.0178)

Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Series: Pianos (NMAH.AC.0060)

Wood & Brooks Company Records, c. 1890-c. 1958 (NMAH.AC.0457)

Wurlitzer Company Records, 1864-1984(NMAH.AC.0468).