Franklin L. Ford was a salesman: he sold pianos in North Philadelphia for about 30 years. His business also tuned, rebuilt and repaired pianos. Music played a large role in Franklin's life—he was a singer, musician (piano and organ) and composer, who taught voice and piano as well. He was a Mason, a member of Lulu Temple in Philadelphia, as was his father, George.
From 1892 until 1902 he was listed in the Philadelphia city directory as a salesman. For some of that time he sold Wearever pots and pans door to door.
He married Fannie Perry Headrick in 1893 and they moved to 2339 Van Pelt Street. Around 1902 they moved to 2265 N. 18th Street. While living at this address he first began advertising his business—selling pianos—in the Philadelphia Inquirer, his first ad appearing on February 14, 1903, a personal ad offering an "elegant rosewood piano" for $65. In his next ad, on April 18, he first used the phrase "Ford's Piano Parlors." By September he was advertising his business as "FORD PIANOS, FAMOUS FOR BARGAINS."
In 1904 he moved his business (for the most part) to 1624 W. Susquehanna Avenue. His first ad there was on July 8, 1904. He still used his home address for some ads, from 1903 until 1911, but the total was about a tenth of those at the Susquehanna Avenue address.
In 1911 the family moved to 2216 N. 17th Street, at which time he stopped using the space on Susquehanna Avenue and used his home as his place of business.
In 1913 they moved again, purchasing a home at 1928 N. 17th Street, which the Swedish Baptist Church had been using to hold worship services. Again, he conducted his piano sales out of his home.
Over the years Franklin used various names for his business: Ford's Piano Parlors [1903 – 1923]; Ford's Piano Warerooms [1905]; Ford's Music House [1905 – 1910]; and Ford's Piano House [1906 – 1914]. His last ad, from July 26, 1929, was titled "Musical Fords." In 1916 his ad mentioned "over 7000 satisfied customers," and in 1918 it was "10,000 satisfied customers." Tuning pianos was a part of his business, and he frequently used the phrase, "FAMOUS FORD TUNERS" in his ads. Another oft-used phrase was "$1 Tunes Your Piano." He usually had the cheapest rate—others were charging $1.25 or $1.50.
Franklin was a composer, though we know of only two of his songs, which were written 35 years apart. "Sunshine March" was self-published in 1897. The cover of the sheet music has "Sincerely Dedicated to My Wife." The other song, "Have Faith in the U.S.A.," was written and copyrighted in 1932. The song, according to his obituary, was "written in response to an appeal by President Hoover for inspirational and patriotic songs."
Franklin also taught voice and piano. On April 8, 1905, he first advertised "Ford's School of Music," which consisted of "SHORT, SURE methods, voice and piano, private lessons."
Franklin died of cancer in 1933, at the age of 61.
From 1892 until 1902 he was listed in the Philadelphia city directory as a salesman. For some of that time he sold Wearever pots and pans door to door.
He married Fannie Perry Headrick in 1893 and they moved to 2339 Van Pelt Street. Around 1902 they moved to 2265 N. 18th Street. While living at this address he first began advertising his business—selling pianos—in the Philadelphia Inquirer, his first ad appearing on February 14, 1903, a personal ad offering an "elegant rosewood piano" for $65. In his next ad, on April 18, he first used the phrase "Ford's Piano Parlors." By September he was advertising his business as "FORD PIANOS, FAMOUS FOR BARGAINS."
In 1904 he moved his business (for the most part) to 1624 W. Susquehanna Avenue. His first ad there was on July 8, 1904. He still used his home address for some ads, from 1903 until 1911, but the total was about a tenth of those at the Susquehanna Avenue address.
In 1911 the family moved to 2216 N. 17th Street, at which time he stopped using the space on Susquehanna Avenue and used his home as his place of business.
In 1913 they moved again, purchasing a home at 1928 N. 17th Street, which the Swedish Baptist Church had been using to hold worship services. Again, he conducted his piano sales out of his home.
Over the years Franklin used various names for his business: Ford's Piano Parlors [1903 – 1923]; Ford's Piano Warerooms [1905]; Ford's Music House [1905 – 1910]; and Ford's Piano House [1906 – 1914]. His last ad, from July 26, 1929, was titled "Musical Fords." In 1916 his ad mentioned "over 7000 satisfied customers," and in 1918 it was "10,000 satisfied customers." Tuning pianos was a part of his business, and he frequently used the phrase, "FAMOUS FORD TUNERS" in his ads. Another oft-used phrase was "$1 Tunes Your Piano." He usually had the cheapest rate—others were charging $1.25 or $1.50.
Franklin was a composer, though we know of only two of his songs, which were written 35 years apart. "Sunshine March" was self-published in 1897. The cover of the sheet music has "Sincerely Dedicated to My Wife." The other song, "Have Faith in the U.S.A.," was written and copyrighted in 1932. The song, according to his obituary, was "written in response to an appeal by President Hoover for inspirational and patriotic songs."
Franklin also taught voice and piano. On April 8, 1905, he first advertised "Ford's School of Music," which consisted of "SHORT, SURE methods, voice and piano, private lessons."
Franklin died of cancer in 1933, at the age of 61.
Franklin L. Ford was a salesman: he sold pianos in North Philadelphia for about 30 years. His business also tuned, rebuilt and repaired pianos. Music played a large role in Franklin's life—he was a singer, musician (piano and organ) and composer, who taught voice and piano as well. He was a Mason, a member of Lulu Temple in Philadelphia, as was his father, George.
From 1892 until 1902 he was listed in the Philadelphia city directory as a salesman. For some of that time he sold Wearever pots and pans door to door.
He married Fannie Perry Headrick in 1893 and they moved to 2339 Van Pelt Street. Around 1902 they moved to 2265 N. 18th Street. While living at this address he first began advertising his business—selling pianos—in the Philadelphia Inquirer, his first ad appearing on February 14, 1903, a personal ad offering an "elegant rosewood piano" for $65. In his next ad, on April 18, he first used the phrase "Ford's Piano Parlors." By September he was advertising his business as "FORD PIANOS, FAMOUS FOR BARGAINS."
In 1904 he moved his business (for the most part) to 1624 W. Susquehanna Avenue. His first ad there was on July 8, 1904. He still used his home address for some ads, from 1903 until 1911, but the total was about a tenth of those at the Susquehanna Avenue address.
In 1911 the family moved to 2216 N. 17th Street, at which time he stopped using the space on Susquehanna Avenue and used his home as his place of business.
In 1913 they moved again, purchasing a home at 1928 N. 17th Street, which the Swedish Baptist Church had been using to hold worship services. Again, he conducted his piano sales out of his home.
Over the years Franklin used various names for his business: Ford's Piano Parlors [1903 – 1923]; Ford's Piano Warerooms [1905]; Ford's Music House [1905 – 1910]; and Ford's Piano House [1906 – 1914]. His last ad, from July 26, 1929, was titled "Musical Fords." In 1916 his ad mentioned "over 7000 satisfied customers," and in 1918 it was "10,000 satisfied customers." Tuning pianos was a part of his business, and he frequently used the phrase, "FAMOUS FORD TUNERS" in his ads. Another oft-used phrase was "$1 Tunes Your Piano." He usually had the cheapest rate—others were charging $1.25 or $1.50.
Franklin was a composer, though we know of only two of his songs, which were written 35 years apart. "Sunshine March" was self-published in 1897. The cover of the sheet music has "Sincerely Dedicated to My Wife." The other song, "Have Faith in the U.S.A.," was written and copyrighted in 1932. The song, according to his obituary, was "written in response to an appeal by President Hoover for inspirational and patriotic songs."
Franklin also taught voice and piano. On April 8, 1905, he first advertised "Ford's School of Music," which consisted of "SHORT, SURE methods, voice and piano, private lessons."
Franklin died of cancer in 1933, at the age of 61.
From 1892 until 1902 he was listed in the Philadelphia city directory as a salesman. For some of that time he sold Wearever pots and pans door to door.
He married Fannie Perry Headrick in 1893 and they moved to 2339 Van Pelt Street. Around 1902 they moved to 2265 N. 18th Street. While living at this address he first began advertising his business—selling pianos—in the Philadelphia Inquirer, his first ad appearing on February 14, 1903, a personal ad offering an "elegant rosewood piano" for $65. In his next ad, on April 18, he first used the phrase "Ford's Piano Parlors." By September he was advertising his business as "FORD PIANOS, FAMOUS FOR BARGAINS."
In 1904 he moved his business (for the most part) to 1624 W. Susquehanna Avenue. His first ad there was on July 8, 1904. He still used his home address for some ads, from 1903 until 1911, but the total was about a tenth of those at the Susquehanna Avenue address.
In 1911 the family moved to 2216 N. 17th Street, at which time he stopped using the space on Susquehanna Avenue and used his home as his place of business.
In 1913 they moved again, purchasing a home at 1928 N. 17th Street, which the Swedish Baptist Church had been using to hold worship services. Again, he conducted his piano sales out of his home.
Over the years Franklin used various names for his business: Ford's Piano Parlors [1903 – 1923]; Ford's Piano Warerooms [1905]; Ford's Music House [1905 – 1910]; and Ford's Piano House [1906 – 1914]. His last ad, from July 26, 1929, was titled "Musical Fords." In 1916 his ad mentioned "over 7000 satisfied customers," and in 1918 it was "10,000 satisfied customers." Tuning pianos was a part of his business, and he frequently used the phrase, "FAMOUS FORD TUNERS" in his ads. Another oft-used phrase was "$1 Tunes Your Piano." He usually had the cheapest rate—others were charging $1.25 or $1.50.
Franklin was a composer, though we know of only two of his songs, which were written 35 years apart. "Sunshine March" was self-published in 1897. The cover of the sheet music has "Sincerely Dedicated to My Wife." The other song, "Have Faith in the U.S.A.," was written and copyrighted in 1932. The song, according to his obituary, was "written in response to an appeal by President Hoover for inspirational and patriotic songs."
Franklin also taught voice and piano. On April 8, 1905, he first advertised "Ford's School of Music," which consisted of "SHORT, SURE methods, voice and piano, private lessons."
Franklin died of cancer in 1933, at the age of 61.
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