Meyer, Conrad, 1793-1881.

Conrad Meyer was a cabinetmaker and later a piano manufacturer. He was born on September 18, 1793 in Marburg, Hesse Cassel, Germany. He was a soldier during the war with Napolean during 1814 and 1815. Meyer served a four year apprenticeship with a cabinetmaker in Marburg, which he completed on May 13, 1818. On the 14th, Meyer set sail for America, but did not arrive until August, 1819. Upon his arrival in Baltimore, Md., he started work as a piano maker; he was employed by Joseph Hickory and James Lick was a fellow workman. Meyer settled in Philadelphia early in 1823 and established himself in business, founding a piano forte factory. It eventually became known as Conrad Meyer & Sons.

In 1832, Meyer invented the full iron plate frame for pianos, which was said to have launced a new system of piano making in America. Meyer was also the first to use glass as an insulator. He won awards at a number of exhibitions between 1833 and 1879. In 1836, he became a citizen of the United States. Meyer was a member of Hermann Lodge, No. 125, connected with the Franklin Institue, and involved in the German and Marbuger Societies. He was active in musical enterprises. At the time of his death in 1881, the piano making firm was under the management of his sons, Reed and Charles E. Meyer.

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