Elbridge Wright was an apprentice to Samuel Graves at his original woodwind shop which had been founded in the 1820s in West Fairlee, Vermont and later headquartered in Winchester, New Hampshire.

While in Winchester, James Keat, who had apprenticed to his father Samuel in England around the turn of the century, introduced the Graves firm to brasswind instrument manufacture.

The company also offered the full range of instruments in upright bell and over the shoulder configurations.

[6] He purchased this horn after several months of saving following his graduation from high school and relocation to Indianapolis from Toronto in 1884.

Clarke did not stay with the Boston for very long, changing horns and manufacturers many times in his career.

[7] The Boston Musical Instrument Manufactury/Company was a low volume producer by modern standards.

[5] Horns built after 1914 (serial numbers 22,000 and above) were manufactured after the departure of the original owners from the firm.