Show T new hampshire man owns owna oldest piano portsmouth N II 11 charles charies g W gray of this city has the dis lon of being the owner of the oldest piano in the united st states ates S the instrument which has attracted much attention wits was A built in london in 1703 by c johann campe inventor of the grand brand piano in 1784 it was brought to the united states for I 1 john jacob astor D tiring during the long passage across the ocean it was with difficulty that the strings were kept from rusting after its arrival in new york the atie much dryer atmosphere caused tile the woodwork to crack A for or nearly forty years tile the piano remained in the astor ats family then it went into the possession of the fattier father of the late G alexander emery of 0 boston on the death of mr emery sr the piano passed to its hla son and on tits his removal from boston lInsto ij to this his city lie he took tile the hig highly lily treasured instrument with iab will him upon the death of t sir mr emery Eti iery more than twenty alve years ago the piano was purchased by mr gray the piano Is still in a good state of x |