Kilbourn
George & William Kilbourn
George Kilbourn was born on March 6, 1793 in Hartford, Connecticut. He married Mary Van Zant on April 29, 1815. She passed away in 1822 leaving George without any children. He then married Catharine Dale and fathered five children. In the Albany City Directories, Kilbourn is listed in 1844 as a carpenter, working out of 111 Orange St. He remains at that address until 1846. The next year, 1847, the directory lists him as a drum maker until 1849 at that same address. Until the time of his death in 1860, George Kilbourn is listed as a drum maker at various addresses on Orange St, before ending his career at 147 Clinton Ave. His son, William, would continue the family business of making drums for next five decades.
William Kilbourn was born August 15, 1828 in Albany, New York. In 1857, he began working as a drum maker at 145 Clinton Ave., remaining at that address through 1858. William then moved to 147 Clinton Ave. until 1863. The next two years are missing from the Albany Directories, but within that time he moved once again to 7 Clinton Ave. From 1870-1911, William is listed at various addresses on Broadway, North Swan, and Columbia, until the time of his death on February 23, 1912.
16 ½” diameter by 13 ½” tall.
Drum used by Durham O. Abel of Bennington, VT. Abel was a drummer in the Second Vermont Regimental Band.
The drum shell appears to be maple secured with iron nails along the seam. The brass tack design consists of two vertical rows of tacks, one complete and the other in three groups. Two concentric circles of tacks surround the vent, while a partial diamond pattern ap
The label reads, "PREMIUM BASS AND SNARE/ DRUMS,/ TAMBOURINES & BANJOS,/ MADE AND REPAIRED BY/ GEORGE KILBOURN,/ 119 ORANGE STREET,/ ALBANY, N.Y." This address dates the drum from 1850-1857.
16 1/4" diameter by 15 3/4" tall.
Another George Kilboune labeled drum utilizing the same tack design as above. Date of manufacture is also 1850-1857 based on the address of 119 Orange Street.
30" diameter by 19" tall.
Wonderful example of a George Kilbourn bass drum. It is difficult to say how old the ropes and leather braces are, but they appear to be quite old, if not original, to the drum.
The brass tack design follows the same pattern as described above used on other George Kilbourn drums. The shell may have been wider at one point, which is evidenced by the uneven tacks on the right and left side.
An interesting motif containing a collection of instruments, as well as the musical notation for "Hail Columbia."
The original source of the tune of "Hail Columbia" is Philip Phile's work "The Presidents March." In 1798, Joseph Hopkinson rearranged and wrote new lyrics to "The Presidents March" (written and performed at George Washington's inauguration) for the song "Hail Columbia." "Hail Columbi
14 3/8" Diameter by 11 7/8" Tall
Paper label on inside of drum reads, " Premium Bass and Snare / Drums, / Tambourine & Banjos, / Made and Repaired by / George Kilbourn, / 119 Orange Street, / Albany, N.Y." and numbered "3244" below label.
A repair has been completed to the hoop where a crack or break most likely occurred. A large piece of iron has been nailed to the damaged section, as well as a hole drilled for the rope to pass through. This is commonly seen on counter hoops when the holes have been drilled too close to the top and over time, the rope has caused the wood to fail.
Handwritten identification on drum interior "John W. France / Olivesburg, Richland / County, Ohio." John W. France (1844-1911) enlisted on 2/22/1864 as a private and mustered into Co. D, Ohio 2nd Cavalry. He mustered out on 9/11/1865 at St. Louis, Missouri. After transferring to the IX Corps, Army of the Potomac, in May 1864, the 2nd Ohio Cavalry engaged in near continuous combat in the Eastern T
15 3/4" diameter by 14" tall.
Possibly a transitional drum made by father and son, it displays the tack design utilized by George Kilbourn, but has a William Kilbourn label containing the address 147 Clinton Ave.
Both George and William are listed as making drums at 147 Clinton Ave. from 1859-1860. This was most likely the period of time when William began taking over more responsibility in his father's business.
Clearly new rope and leather braces have been added to this drum. I would venture to say the counter hoops have also been replaced, or at least painted at some point.
15 ¾” diameter by 13 ½” tall.
Hoops 1 3/8” tall.
Drum shell is solid steam bent birds-eye maple. The overlap is secured by a single row of iron nails. A bone vent insert can be seen as well. Iron hooks, with reinforced ridges, allow the rope to pass through to tension the drum.
The counter hoops are unpainted and secured with a series of iron nails that run the length of the overlap. Leather braces measure 1 1/4" wide with pinked edges.
Label indicates a manufacture date between 1864-1869, most likely war time, based on the construction similarities of those identified to soldiers.
16" diameter by 13" tall.
The general construction of this drum differs very little from the example previously discussed. The shell is made of maple, secured with a single row of iron nails, and decorated with a bone vent insert. The counter hoops were originally red, utilize iron hooks, and are nailed in the same manner as above.
New rope and leather braces have been added, and possibly skin heads. A circular painted motif adorns this drum, which is common to Kilbourn. An eagle in flight clutching a bundle of arrows, while perched on an American shield.
16" diameter by 13" tall.
The drum to the right has no label to identify the maker. However, the uncanny similarities it shares with identified Kilbourn drums allows us to come to a strong conclusion that it was made by William Kilbourn.
16 1/2" diameter by 16" tall.
One of the few Kilbourn labeled drums with contract eagle emblazonment that I have seen. Keeping consistent, the counter hoops do have a series of nails running the length of the scarf joint.
Excellent label which reads, "WILLIAM KILBOURN,/ (SUCCESSOR TO GEORGE KILBOURN,)/ BASS AND SNARE DRUMS,/ TAMBOURINES, BANJOS, TOY DRUMS &C,/ ALSO MANUFACTURER OF THE/ PATENT GUITAR BANJO/ No. 147 CLINTON AVENUE,/ ALBANY, N. Y."
ca. 1858-1863.
Right: Advertisement from 1869 – Albany Business Records
16 5/8" diameter by 12 1/2" tall.
Another circular motif painted with the coat of arms of New York and "Regt Co. N.G.S.N.Y." The shell looks to have been cleaned, or perhaps the varnish was removed.
Again, the red painted counter hoops have a series of iron nails spanning the entire joint. The strainer appears to have been a later addition.
The leather braces display a rounded scalloped edge, consistent with other drums made by William Kilbourn.
29" diameter by 18" tall.
Paper label inside reads, "WILLIAM KILBOURN; / (SUCCESSOR TO GEORGE KILBOURN,) / MANUFACTURER OF / BASS AND SNARE DRUMS / TAMBOURINES, BANJOS, TOY DRUMS & C. / ALSO MANUFACTURERS OF THE / PATENT GUITAR BANJO / NO. 7 CLINTON AVENUE / ALBANY, N. Y."
Possible dates of manufacture are 1864-1869. Part of the collection of the National Music Museum/The University of South Dakota.
16" diameter by 10" tall solid maple shell.
This is a late 19th century, or early 20th century, William Kilbourn drum. A simple row of iron nails secures the overlap and a wooden vent insert is the only embellishment to the plain shell.
In lieu of a paper label, this late Kilbourn drum exhibits a dark inked stamp which reads, "Wm. KILBOURN/ BASS AND SNARE DRUMS/ ALBANY, N. Y."
1 3/16" tall maple hoops secured by three iron nails. Between each iron hook is an inlayed five pointed star of some exotic hardwood, such as rosewood or cocobolo.
Construction methods changed little from Kilbourn's earlier dated drums to this example. The inside of the shell shows circular saw marks, as do the reinforcing hoops. These also contain Roman Numerals, as older drums display.