The New York Symphony Society was founded in 1878 by Leopold Damrosch (1832 - 1885) and upon his death was taken over by his son, Walter Damrosch (1862 - 1950). In 1903 he reorganized it to become the New York Symphony Orchestra as a cooperative with profits and losses to be shared among the members and guarantors. The orchestra was reorganized once again in 1907 with a board of directors to assume all financial responsibilities and to provide its musicians with regular salaries. The Symphony continued until 1928 when it merged with the New York Philharmonic to become the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, comprising mostly members from the Philharmonic.

In its prime the New York Symphony embarked on many national tours. At right it is seen in in concert at San Francisco in 1910. Below the members of the orchestra are gathered around Mr. Damrosch (front center) with their instruments in 1912. The normal mode of transportation was by rail but as the photos at the bottom of this page show, boats were employed at San Francisco.

Josef Franzl was principal horn of the orchestra for thirteen years. In a letter of recommendation dated April 29, 1933 accompanied by a pair of photos, Mr. Damrosch states:

It is with pleasure thai I recommend Mr. Josef Franzl as an artist and gentleman. He was my first horn for thirteen years and has given great satisfaction in that capacity. If he decides to return to Czechoslovakia, I shall be very sorry to lose him, as an artist like him cannot be easily replaced. Our personal relations have been most pleasant during the many years that he was a member of the New York Symphony Orchestra.