American musician, recording engineer and one of the earliest classical music producers for the gramophone. Gaisberg concentrated on talent-scouting and persuading performers to make recordings for the newly invented gramophone.
Born Washington DC. Musically talented he worked in the fledgling recording technology. In 1898 when the Gramophone Company was formed in London he left New York to join the Gramophone Company as its first recording engineer. He produced many of the important early recordings and retired in 1939.
Retained his American citizenship to the end, and was a lifelong bachelor. He died at his home in Hampstead.
The photo shows (left to right): Gaisberg, Elgar and Yehudi Menuhin in 1932 outside the Abbey Road Studios.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, states that in addition to much information given on our Frederick William Gaisberg was born on 1 January 1873 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA, the second of the seven children of Wilhelm Konrad Gaisberg (1842-1902) and Emma Katherine Gaisberg née Kling (1853-1914).
His six siblings were: Caroline 'Carrie' Gaisberg (1871-1958); Charles John Gaisberg (1874-1949); Emma Maria Gaisberg (1875-1939); William Conrad Gaisberg (1878-1918); Isabel Gaisberg (b.1881) and Louise Wilhelmina Gaisberg (1889-1973).
On 23 July 1898 he departed from New York City, New York, USA aboard the RMS Umbria of the Cunard Steamship Company, arriving in Liverpool, Lancashire, on 31 July 1898.
In the 1905 edition of Kelly's Paddington Directory he was listed at 187 Sutherland Avenue and in the 1910-1911 edition of their Hampstead Directory he was living at 6 Rudall Crescent.
Electoral registers from 1919 to 1925 show him and his sister Carrie Gaisburg listed at 13 Avenue Mansions, Finchley Road, London, NW3.
When he completed his census return form on 19 June 1921 he described himself as aged 48 years, 6 months and a talking machine expert. He was residing in seven rooms at 13 Avenue Mansions, Finchley Road, Hampstead, NW3, with his sister, Carrie Gaisberg who was shown as his housekeeper, his niece Isabella Maria Valli (1916-2000) who was shown as a visitor, together with a female general domestic servant. He gave his place of employment as Gramophone Co. Ltd., Hayes, Middlesex (now Greater London).
By 1928 he was being listed in telephone directories at 42 Crediton Hill, London, NW6.
When the England and Wales Register was compiled on 29 September 1939 he was shown as a retired gramophone engineer living at , Hampstead, with his sister Carrie Gaisberg, who was listed as on unpaid domestic duties, together with a cook.
Electoral registers from 1945 to 1948 show him listed at Oak Bank, Heath Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, together with his sister Louise Valli and her husband Camillo Constant Vallie.
His death was registered as aged 78 years in the 3rd quarter of 1951 in the Hampstead Registration District, London. Probate records gave his American address as Berkshire Apartments, Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia, USA and confirm that died on 2 September 1951 at 42 Crediton Hill, Hampstead. his in Row WC, Grave 293, in the Hampstead Cemetery, Fortune Green Road, London, NW6 1DR. Letters of administration were granted on 25 January 1952 to Peter Stephen Crane, a solicitor and attorney of The Hamilton National Bank of Washington, His effects in England totalled £1,388-0s-9d.
He is shown as 'FRED GAISBERG' on Westminster City Council's memorial plaque attached to 31 Maiden Lane, London, WC2.
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them