George and August Gemunder Question

[Ken Smith]

Towards the end of 1847, when Gemünder had been four years at Vuillaume's, his two[11] brothers, who were in America, invited him to go there, as the interest in and taste for music was improving and they intended to give concerts. Gemünder therefore determined to accept this invitation and left Paris. He arrived in November, at Springfield, Mass., and, meeting his brothers, arrangements for concerts were made with an agent, who engaged several other artists to make up the company. The instrumental quartet consisted of a clarinet, violin, flute and bass guitar. This music made quite a sensation, and the houses were always crowded, yet the Gemünder brothers did not receive anything from the proceeds. They soon comprehended that they had had too much confidence in their agent, and after the lapse of a week they gave up the speculation.

Bass Guitar? in 1847?

http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/1/...-h/36147-h.htm