Smithsonian Institution The William Steinway Diary: 1861-1896
Steinway & Sons Records and Family Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Charles Blasius
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Charles Blasius (b. 1822 in Cologne, Germany; d. March 16, 1894, Philadelphia, PA) was a dealer who sold Steinway & Sons pianos for many years. William Steinway mentioned Charles Blasius numerous times in his diary. As well as having a professional relationship, they were friends who stayed with each other and engaged in social activities when visiting the other’s city. History as piano dealer for Steinway & Sons:(6)(9)(15)(16)
1856 Blasius Brothers Trenton, NJ
1857 Blasius Brothers Philadelphia, PA 1006 Chestnut St.
1870 Charles Blasius Philadelphia
1878 Charles Blasius Philadelphia 1119 Chestnut St.
1879 Charles Blasius & Son Philadelphia
1883 Charles Blasius & Sons Philadelphia
1886 Charles Blasius & Sons Philadelphia 1101-1103 Chestnut St.
1892 end of role as Steinway dealership
Charles Blasius displayed his musical inclinations from a very young age, not only as a talented pianist, but also as a piano builder, learning all aspects of that business.(4)(5) He came to the United States when he was about 25. (5) In 1855 he set up his first business with his brother in Trenton NJ, moving within two years to Philadelphia. The business was known as Blasius Brothers(3)(9) and was the area Steinway representative starting in 1856.(7) Charles and his brother, William, had some sort of falling out (Diary, 1870-02-26, 02-28) and Charles Blasius ultimately bought out his brother (Diary, 1870-03-11) and later added his sons Levin in 1879 and Oscar in 1883.(9)
William mentioned Charles Blasius multiple times in his diary and appears to have had a good relationship with him. Blasius often stayed at William’s home when he was in New York (Diary, 1877-01-10, 3-27; 1878-02-14, 1881-01-11), sometimes Blasius brought his son (Diary, 1877-05-24) or his wife (Diary, 1877-08-09). William stayed with Blasius on occasion in Philadelphia.(Diary, 1876-06-08, 1884-04-29) William also included Blasius in various social activities, such as playing Skat (Diary, 1876-02-02) and sending him to the theater with his family.(Diary, 1877-05-23; 1879-01-10, 01-17) William was in Philadelphia in 1878 when Blasius opened his new store at 1119 Chestnut St.(Diary, 1878-10-26) The new warerooms were said to be “elegant, well lighted, high ceilings, and with the best possible acoustic properties.”(8)
Blasius also assisted William in his disputes with Weber, in one instance purchasing a Weber piano which he then shipped to William, who determined that Weber had infringed on one of his patents.(Diary, 1879-03-06)
Blasius sold Steinway pianos, pianos he manufactured, and pianos made by other manufacturers. The firm also sold organs.(13) In 1887, Blasius & Sons bought the business Albrecht & Co. Pianos, a well-established firm in Philadelphia. They continued to manufacture pianos under the Albrecht name.(12) In addition to their warerooms in Philadelphia, Blasius & Sons had branches in Norristown and West Chester, PA(13)(14) and in Reading(13). Blasius & Sons had a fine reputation. According to The Music Trade Review, “they do a splendid business in Steinway and Sohmer pianos, and their sales of the Blasius & Sons and Albrecht & Co. pianos also continue without intermission. Apart from the intrinsic excellence of the wares offered by the firm, the fact that such wares are endorsed by Blasius & Sons is alone sufficient to insure their speedy distribution far and near. Their Philadelphia stores have acquired a national fame.”(1)
In the 1890’s, Blasius & Sons used a trade card that proudly quoted a letter they had received from Thomas Edison: “Gentlemen: I have been using your piano for the last two years for experiments on the phonograph at the laboratory. Of all the instruments tried, my experimenters prefer the Blasius. Yours, Thomas A. Edison.”(10)
In 1892, Blasius & Sons moved their manufacturing business to Woodbury, NJ, calling it the Blasius Piano Company and incorporating it as a separate business from Blasius & Sons. They retained their warerooms in Philadelphia. (2)(15) To support this enterprise, they moved their entire workforce of piano builders to Woodbury, building homes for them to live in.(11) Late that year, William made the decision to terminate his relationship with Blasius and to create a separate Steinway dealership under the leadership of Nahum Stetson, at 1416 and 1418 Chestnut St.(Diary, 1892-11-26) The business was called the N. Stetson & Co.(9) It is clear from the diary that the Blasius family was not happy with this decision.(Diary, 1892-11-26) They had been Steinway dealers for close to 36 years.
Apart from being a businessman, Charles Blasius was well known as a pianist, even appearing with Louis Gottschalk on his first American tour(5). He was also known as a composer.(3)(5)
After his death at his home at 1101 Chestnut Street, Charles Blasius was remembered as “plain and unostentatious, kindly and courteous in his dealings….the humblest employee of the house always found in him more than an employer – they found a friend.”(3) Because of health issues William was unable to attend the funeral.(Diary,1894-03-17) Nahum Stetson represented Steinway & Sons at the funeral.(Diary, 1894-03-19)
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Sources
1. “Blasius & Sons,” The Music Trade Review, December 18, 1889, p. 322.
2. “Blasius Piano Company Incorporated,” Musical Courier, November 23, 1892, p. 42.
3. “Charles Blasius,” The Music Trade Review, March 24, 1894, p. 9.
4. “Charles Blasius,” Musical Courier, March 21, 1894, p. 34.
5. “Charles Blasius,” Supplement to Freund’s Music and Drama, November 8, 1890, p. 10.
6. “Charles Blasius,” The Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia), March 31, 1870, p. 4.
7. “Charles Blasius,” The Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia), April 23, 1870, p. 4.
8. “Charles Blasius & Son, of Philadelphia,” American Art Journal, October 22, 1881, p. 512.
9. “Death of Charles Blasius,” American Art Journal, March 24, 1894, p. 491.
10. http://preservewoodbury.blogspot.com/2013/01/blasius-sons-piano-works.html
11. “Something About Blasius & Sons at Woodbury, N. J.,” American Art Journal, August 27, 1892, p. 478.
12. “The Albrecht Piano,” Freund’s Music and Drama, September 20, 1890, p. 15.
13. “The House of Blasius & Sons,” American Art Journal, January 28, 1888, p. 232.
14. Untitled, American Art Journal, May 23, 1885, p. 77.
15. Untitled, Musical Courier, December 21, 1892, p. 44.
16. Untitled, The Music Trade Review, November 9, 1878, p. 16.
