Bunnelle: After George H. Bunnelle came to Sidney he joined Haleman’s band and it eventually became the Bunnelle band. Mr. Bunnelle was a somewhat noted cornet player and organized his band during the summer of 1875, less than a year after the Tappe band was organized. Bunnelle’s band, however, only existed for a year; his popularity being so eclipsed by Tappe.

One reason was that Bunnelle tried to play music that was too high class for the musicians he had while Mr. Tappe played music of a more popular nature. Both bands gave a concert each week from a stand that stood in the square on the north side of the courthouse. They were bitter rivals.

Germania: Another band was the Germania which was organized in 1875. It was composed of: John H. Wagner, clarinet; W. O. Amann, B flat cornet; W. O. Wagner, first alto; Clemens Amann, second alto; W. H. Wagner, baritone; Fred Montanus, tuba. This band was organized for the amusement of the members. It had an existence of three or four years or until several of its members went into business for themselves and did not have the time to devote to it.

Rebstock: Another contemporary with the Tappe band was the Rebstock band, led by W.J. Rebstock, organized in 1877 and lasted three or four years. Their rehearsals were held in the Burkhardt building. One Fourth of July this band came out to play and after getting out on the street found that the Tappe band was out playing. Thinking they could not compete with the Tappe band, they went over into east Sidney and spent the day playing there, to the gratification of east Sidney residents.

Tappe: Born in 1842 at Cincinnati, Ohio, of a family of musical instrument makers, Herman Tappe resided in Piqua before coming to Sidney. He was a cigar maker by trade, his factory being located where the family residence "The Chimneys" now stands. His cigar store was located on the corner now occupied by the Citizens bank building (1938). His brother Carl was associated with him in the business. Rehearsals were held on the third floor of the building known as the Hickok corner. Later, headquarters were moved to the Eisenstein building, known then as the Singer Hall building. They participated in practically every social gathering of that day and hardly an issue of the Shelby County Democrat failed to contain accounts of appearances of Tappe’s band.

They played for the corner stone laying of the Monumental building in 1875, sporting a drum major for the first time which was the highest achievement a band of that period could attain. They also played for the corner stone laying of the court house on July the Fourth, 1881.