Oliver Ditson

DITSON, Oliver Born 1811, died 1888 Boston, Massachusetts USA. Founded a music publishing company 1835, which expanded to include the violin trade. Set up a violin shop in Cinncinatti 1860 in association with John Church, and helped the establishment of Lyon & Healey in Chicago 1864. Own shop was opened in New York 1867 and absorbed the music business of Firth & Son in the same year, followed by Wm. Hall 1875 and J. L. Peters 1877. His Boston workshop employed numbers of makers and repairers, and provided good quality student instruments. [Wenberg]