Place of business: Boston MA. USA.
Dates of business: 1777-1838*
*Per Dillon
William Callender was one of the earliest fife makers in the United States that instruments survive.
This fife is marked: Wm Callender, 62 Middle St, Boston.
These fifes are the earliest dateable instruments of American Manufacture.
Date of fife: After 1803
Features:
Length of Instrument-the fife is 15 ¼ inch.
Key of instrument-B (Bb?) stamped above the embouchure hole. What is interesting is that this fife pitched at a rather low C.
Finger holes-seem to be all of the same size.
The spacing on the holes is as follows:
1-2=.687
2-3=.677
3-4=.968
4-5=.711
5-6=.651.
Swell-the swell on this instrument comes after the embouchure hole. It comes about a quarter of the way down from the top ferrule.
Ferrules- Brass/seamed
Cat Number 30