From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). —

Apprentice with Tellers [? A. B. Felgemaker?, *see editorial note below] firm of Erie, Pennsylvania; partner with Heinrich (Henry) Tellers; and Ignatius Tellers in Tellers-Sommerhoff firm of Erie, Pennsylvania, 1906; operated W. A. Sommerhoff & Co. of Erie, Pennsylvania, 1924; partner with John Liebel until 1939; died 22 May 1939 in Erie, Pennsylvania.

*Sommerhoff and the Tellers brothers, Henry and Ignatius, were all employeed at A.B. Felgemaker prior to forming Tellers-Sommerhoff, which was succeeded by Tellers-Kent in 1918. Tellers-Kent closed in 1933, members of the Tellers family continued doing service work, but the Tellers Organ Co. was not formed until 1945. —Ed.

Patents granted to William A. Sommerhoff:

• Patent #862,029; July 30, 1907; action.
• Patent #1,013,570; January 2, 1912; pipe foot.

Sources:

• The Diapason September 1924, 14.
• The Diapason July 1939, 6.
• [Information taken from the text of the United States patents listed above.]

See main entry: Tellers-Sommerhoff