Ferdinand Weber

According to family tradition, Ferdinand Weber built the organ on which Handel first publicly performed The Messiah in Dublin. Various sources cannot agree on if Handel would have been in Dublin had he not known Ferdinand.

i (James Milner-Smyth) have a copy of Ferdinand's apprenticeship certificate from Johan Friederich Fleuter showing that he was apprenticed to Johan Ernst Hahnel, Organ builder to the King of Poland and the Duke of Saxony.

It also states "Ferdinand Weber was born of Christian and lawfully wedded parents on the 6th day of May 1715, and was baptised on 8th May of same year, and named with the name of Ferdinand, in the presence of Tobias Hunger, and of Frau Julianna, wife of Sigismund Fuchs (Licensed Fisher), of Augustenberg, and of Christian Adam Helbich).

From: http://www.dublinmusictrade.ie/node/492

Dates Active in Dublin: [1739?] 1749–1784 Business Type: Musical instrument maker: harpsichordMusical instrument maker: organMusical instrument maker: pianoMusical instrument maker: spinet Address(es): Werburgh Street, 1739–49 Marlborough Street, 1749–55 71 Marlborough Street, 1776–84

Also known as Ferdinand Webber. Born in Saxony. Weber succeeded Peter Gunan as organ tuner and repairer of the Trinity College Chapel organ from 1759 until his death in 1784 (Boydell, 'The Organ of Trinity College Chapel, Dublin'). In the Dublin Directories (1762–84) Weber is listed as a 'harpsichord maker'. His account books (edited by W.H. Grattan Flood) list repairs, new instruments, etc. supplied to a wide variety of clients; they also indicate that a new harpsichord cost from £22-15-0 to £34-2-6 in 1773 and a new Forte Piano cost £14-15-9 in 1775. Apprentices: John Christian Wagner? ['for several Years transacted Business for his Uncle Mr. Ferdinand Webber' (Dublin Journal)] and Robert Woffington? (Boydell, Card Index) Succeeded in business by his widow Rachel and son Thomas Ferdinand in 1784. [