Talk:Lee & Walker

Ditson

Unlike some other companies bought out by Ditson, Lee & Walker kept releasing what seem to have been actual new products, not reissues with new dates (as is the case with William Hall & Son, for instance, where some post-Ditson-acquisition publications- likely all of them- are reissues with false new copyright claims.) I wonder if (1) they were acquired in 1885, not 1875 (that is- typo), which would explain their continuing to release new products up to (not past, that I see so far?) 1885, or if there is some other explanation... Eric 02:00, 5 June 2011 (UTC)

According to the Handbook of American Music and Musicians (1886) - which should be on Google Books and probably archive.org - Walker died in 1857, Lee died in 1875 and the stock and publications were sold to Ditson in 1876. Meanwhile, Julius Lee, Jr. and J.F. Morrison entered into partnership and continued the business under the old name of Lee & Walker but for how long and if they were still in business in 1886 the author is silent. The Handbook appears to be a good source for information on 19th century American publishers. --Cypressdome 03:21, 5 June 2011 (UTC)

I'm wondering if these "reissues with false new copyright claims" could actually be re-prints with copyright renewals. With many of these firms we've been looking at starting operations in the 1840s/50s I think by the 60s and 70s the original copyrights would have been up for renewal (28 years I think). --Cypressdome 03:25, 5 June 2011 (UTC)

Had had this mentioned to me before and had forgotten - in some cases yes, in some cases I think the period hadn't passed yet (the one I can think of was not Ditson but an attempt by the composer to renew - as Carolus pointed out the composer in question, in 1893 this was I think, rather messed it up- ah, and the composer even 'adjusted' up the plate numbers to make it look newly printed (Battle of Richmond, Op.54 (Moelling, Theodore) - original plates 354, new plates 10354. See User_talk:Schissel#Battle_of_Richmond.2C_Op.54_.28Moelling.2C_Theodore.29, too... that's what I was thinking of. Mind, I like what I've seen of Moelling's music, e.g. the fantasy Sad Thoughts. though I see that in those days one could not renew a copyright indefinitely without cause (reminds me of arguments about the function of copyright that have been going on for well over a century and probably much much longer than that) Eric 07:35, 5 June 2011 (UTC)

Wishlist

1st edition plate #s from between 1860 and 1870 (date)! :) Eric 01:01, 16 June 2011 (UTC)

1848?

Plates 284 etc. are copyrighted 1847. Eric 03:36, 25 February 2012 (UTC) (List of compositions by Charles Grobe lists Lee & Walker publications as early as 1846, though caveat, this may be a Willig imprint - perhaps?... - as I think they both worked for Willig until a certain point before leaving?... or am I getting confused?)

Purchase of George Willig

Then again, on Grobe's Op.248 (published much earlier, 1852) they already describe themselves as successors to George Willig. Wishful thinking, perhaps. Eric 14:45, 29 February 2012 (UTC)