The late Alfred Dolge was a significant figure in piano history. Trained in the German piano industry of the 1860s, he studied under the renowned Mathushek upon arriving in the United States. He established himself as a manufacturer of hammers and components, founding Dolgeville, New York, and gained an international reputation for his innovations in piano-making machinery. Dolge was not only a top technician but also had connections with key figures in the piano industry across Europe and America, culminating in the 1911 publication of Pianos and Their Makers. To prepare readers for technical details, Dolge begins with a brief history of stringed keyboard instruments, covering the evolution from the early pianoforte to modern grands. He discusses the development of the iron frame, keyboard, action types, hammers, soundboards, and the materials involved. The core of the book focuses on the nineteenth-century piano's evolution, crediting notable designers and manufacturers, with over 100 pages dedicated to American innovations. It includes profiles of significant personalities and covers automatic instruments like player pianos and reproducing pianos. This extensive data makes the book essential for anyone interested in the piano's history, restoration, and repairs, enriched by diagrams and illustrations that provide invaluable insights into American piano making.
