Examining the store with the big bass

According to the March 24, 1929 edition of the Boston Globe, the Carl Fischer Music House on Cooper Square in New York City had for years been known as "The store with the big bass." Sure enough, from at least 1896 (as seen above), one could behold a ridiculously large tuba in one of the establishment's street-level windows. But how and when did that monster come to occupy that perch?

As I shared in a previous post, I am currently working with Steve Dillon, of Dillon Music in NJ, to conclusively answer that question - esp. now that Steve and his team are in the process of restoring that historic tuba. Here we are with the battered beast about a month ago (Steve on the left, me on the right), shortly after the horn arrived at his shop from Harvard University, where it has lived since 1948:

We have good reason to believe that this giant tuba, which was built by F. Besson & Co. and is fully functional, was created to be part of a display at the Paris Exposition of 1889. And, two years later, there is mention of an obscenely large tuba on exhibit in New York City, leading us to wonder if it might be the same horn.

The above-mentioned Boston Globe article contends that it was the great bandmaster Patrick Gilmore who came up with the idea for the tuba, ultimately planning to feature it in his band at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. It continues, "Collaborating with the late Carl Fischer of New York, Mr. Gilmore planned and designed a huge bass horn which was executed by the London firm of Besson & Co."

The one clear piece of evidence that connects a giant Besson tuba with Gilmore's Band in the early 1890s is this undated lithograph (courtesy of Soulis Auctions):

Gilmore worked with a band of one hundred both in 1891, for his summer series of concerts at Madison Square Garden, and again for the band's Fall 1892 tour, so this lithograph could have been used for either of those stints (although the weight of evidence, at present, suggest the former). Or it could have been publicity for the band's proposed trip to Chicago in 1893. We're just not sure yet.

Regardless, the huge tuba in the middle of the back row is a dead-ringer for the one that is currently being restored at Dillon Music (although, yes, there is a discrepancy in the engravings on the bell; we have reason to believe that the current engravings were added later):

Was this horn first at the Paris Exposition of 1889, and then it came to America to make an appearance at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893? We're trying to sort that out, so stay tuned!

What is clear enough from the evidence is that this oversized tuba ended up in the window of Carl Fischer's store in New York at some point. Even the 1929 article states that "After the World's Fair it reposed in a store window in New York for many years and soon gained for the store the title, 'The store with the big bass.' Later it came to Boston, . . ."

Below is the visual evidence behind this history that we have been able to pull together so far.

1896 (the date of the image at the top of this post)

• We get our first glimpse of a giant tuba in the window at Carl Fischer's store at 6 and 8 Fourth Avenue in 1896 (from 1880 through 1893, the store was limited to 6 Fourth Ave., but 8 was added in 1894). Here's a close up of that window (original image courtesy of Robb Stewart):

• This image is clearly an artist's rendering, and the tuba is not exactly the way it looks (esp. the placement of the lead pipe), but it's close enough that we have no doubt it is the Harvard tuba, built by Besson.
• We have some evidence to suggest that this horn was in the Carl Fischer window as early as 1891, but we have yet to find an image confirming that.
• Upon closer examination, it appears that there are four cornets or trumpets sitting upright upon the top of the bell of the tuba. The giant horn at the Paris Exposition of 1889 was described as having various instruments spurting out of the top of the bell, which is one more reason to consider that this might be the very same tuba.
• The writing on the windows identifies the instrument makers of which Carl Fischer was the sole agent, including "Besson & Co., London, Eng."

1901 (or later)

• As of 1901, Fischer added no. 10 to his building, which was the identical three-windowed, four-story section to the right of the previous sections:

• This shifted the center of the building to the right, moving over the rooftop sign, as well as the two sign panels atop the windows, which all appear the same as before, except that the Besson & Co. sign no longer says "Paris" next to "London," as it did in the image from 1896.
• Also, the sign above the street-level windows has been changed, as have those windows and the entrance doors to the store.
• The giant tuba in the center street-level windows is clearly the Harvard tuba, laid out exactly as we see it today, only now it has a small tuba, or perhaps a euphonium, upside down on the bell:

• If only we could read the information posted at the base of the horn! Does it perhaps speak of its fame at the Paris Exposition of 1889? And does it reveal how Gilmore had planned to use the tuba?

1907 (or later)

• By this year, a fourth section of the building had been added on the right (no. 12). This shifted the center of the building again to the right, and enlarged the rooftop sign to read "Carl Fischer" instead of just "C. Fischer."

• At this time the address is listed as 48-54 Cooper Square, instead of just 6-12 Fourth Avenue.
• Unfortunately, we cannot tell if the giant tuba is still in the window, but we assume that it is.
• A postcard of Cooper Square was made around this time that shows 48-54 (on the left). as well as the J. Wanamaker building (the high rise in the middle). Curiously, the Carl Fischer building now shows a fifth story, but later photos of the building (e.g. 1923 below) only show four stories. Did the artist get the number of stories wrong?

1911

• This is the year the Besson tuba (i.e., the Harvard tuba) arrived up at the Carl Fischer store in Boston:

• The Boston store opened in 1911 first at 380 Boylston, then expanding to include 382 (as shown here), and the Besson tuba migrated up there at that time - probably to help kick off the opening, but also because "Big Carl" had either just arrived at the NYC store, or would be there soon (see below).
• Here's a close-up of the Harvard tuba in that image - showing the layout of engravings on the bell that are there today:

1911-12

• In 1911 or 12 Carl Fischer had an even larger tuba built for him - this time by Bohland & Fuchs - and this new horn replaced the giant Besson tuba as the spectacle in the window.
• Here is that new horn from a German article published that year, and titled, "The New Monster Bass (Sub-Contra Bass Tuba) from Bohland & Fuchs in Graslice." Next to it, for comparison purposes, is that horn today, which is affectionately known as "Big Carl":

• That German article quoted what the New York World said about this enormous new tuba: "Biggest Horn in the World. Built abroad for advertising purposes by a well-known New York House. Its tremendous notes will never be heard, for there is not a man in existence with a mouth big enough or lungs of sufficient capacity to blow it. But that does not matter, as it was made as an advertisement for a firm of musical instruments makers that has a house on Fourth Avenue. Its height is 9 1/2 feet, its bell is 3 feet across, and its mouthpiece is 5 inches in diameter."
• It should be noted that, unlike the Harvard tuba, which is fully functional, "Big Carl" does not have working valves. It is essentially a giant bugle that looks like a tuba!

1915 (or perhaps a bit earlier)

• Somewhere around this year the building was expanded further - this time to the left - creating 46 Cooper Square, to make the entire Carl Fischer address 46-54. Here is one undated drawing of that building (which, again, shows five stories, rather than four, although that doesn't match the later photographs below):

• Once again, we are unable to tell if there is a giant tuba in the window. But here is undated photograph of the building from around that time - although note the addition of fire escapes, suggesting that it is a few years later. Now we can clearly see "Big Carl," as well as an oversized string bass, in the window:

• Here's a closer look at those instruments:

1921

• Meanwhile, back at Carl Fischer in New York, the new giant tuba, built by Bohland & Fuchs in 1912, was enjoying its view from the storefront window. This photograph appeared in the June 4, 1921 edition of The Music Trade Review:

1923

• With continued growth, Carl Fischer planned and built what one paper called a "Gigantic New Music Establishment" right next to the previous building. However, Carl passed away on February 14 that year, just a month before the twelve-story building was ready for occupancy.
• Here is that building - 56-62 Cooper Square - right when it opened in 1923. Three of the five sections of the old building are seen to its left (again, note the fire escapes):

• "Big Carl" was likely moved to the new building at this time, although we have yet to find a photo of it from the early years of that new space. But here it is - in the far right window - a few decades later:

Today

• I was surprised to discover that two of the sections of the earlier building are sill there - 52-54 Cooper Square:

• The 1923 building was converted into condominiums in 2001, after the Carl Fischer corporate headquarters moved to 65 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village in 1999.
• In 2013, the administrative offices moved to 48 Wall Street, which is where Big Carl can be found today.
• The Harvard tuba has become so-named because it found its way to the Harvard Band room in 1948, but that's another story for another blog post!

Carl Fischer's early history - a summary:

• 1872 - The first store was established at 79 E. Fourth St.
• 1880 - The store moved to 6 Fourth Ave.
• 1885 - Publication of The Metronome began, and Carl Fischer became the exclusive agent for Besson & Co.
• 1894 - The store expanded to 6 and 8 Fourth Ave.
• 1901 - The store further expanded to 6-10 Fourth Ave.
• 1907 - Publication of the Musical Observer began.
• 1907? - The store further expanded to 6-12 Fourth Ave., but started to be referred to as 48-54 Cooper Square.
• 1911? - The store further expanded to 46-54 Cooper Square, and the Boston store opened (definitely in 1911), with the giant tuba perhaps going up there for the opening.
• 1912 - "Big Carl" was built for Carl Fischer by Bohland & Fuchs.
• 1917 - The store expanded to 44 Cooper Square, through a lease agreement.
• 1919 - 56-62 Cooper Square is purchased, with plans for a huge new building there.
• 1923 - The new, twelve-story building opened, 56-62 Cooper Square

[For my original post on the Harvard tuba, click here.]