Albert & Sons (US)

Albert & Sons
Albert & Sons was founded by John Albert a German Violin maker in Philadelphia in the 1850's, and was later joined in this business by his two sons Charles Francis (CF) and Eugene John (EJ)

Albert & Sons were more famous for their Violins than any other instrument, and in making Violins Charles Francis was a better than Eugene John, though neither were as good as their Father.

When John Albert died in 1887 the business was split in two, although the brothers worked within a few blocks of each other. CF Albert's quality started to drop as Charles brought his own son, (another Charles Francis), into the business and Charles Francis jnr. wasn't as good a luthier as Charles Francis snr..

In 1901 Charles Francis snr. died and in 1916 Charles Francis jnr. also died so CF Albert stopped trading and Eugene John  took back the name Albert & Sons for his own business. However EJ Albert had increasingly became an importer and distributor of instruments, rather than a manufacturer, and this continued when the name changed back to Albert & Sons.

In the early 1920's, along with everyone else, Albert & Sons started distributing Ukuleles and Banjoleles which Eugene may have, but almost certainly didn't, make himself.

Albert & Sons ended when EJ Albert sold it on to a New Jersey distributor.