dominion pianot

[briolpiano]

Anyone have an idea how old my piano could be?  It is a Dominion Upright Grand Bowmanville, Ont.  # 13070. Thanks for your comment

[silverwoodpianos]

Dominion Piano & Organ Est. 1870 Bowmanville Ontario.

Principals were A.M. Darley and William Robinson. These two fellows first began business in the Sons of Temperance Hall in Oshawa Ontario and took the name the Oshawa Organ and Melodeon Co.

Three short years later they moved to new headquarters took in a new partner Mr. H. O’Hara and the name Dominion Organ Co. had been coined. In 1879 expansion once again drove them to building pianos in another new building.

In 1894 a major change in management under the direction of J. W. Alexander saw new buildings added and a workforce of 200 men.

By 1910 more than 80,000 instruments had been produced and shipped to outlets in Germany, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Russia.

There is a really good book you can purchase on the history of Canadian Pianos. It is Downright/Upright by Wayne Kelly, well written and a very good read.

Barry Penhale the original publisher of Natural Heritage/ Natural History releases has now joined the Dundurn Group of publishers. This book is now available once again.  Here is the link for purchase….

https://www.dundurn.com/books/downright_upright

happy reading….13070 is 1906. In the book there is a really great photo of the Dominion Organ & Piano  Co. 25 member band circa 1885. This is a unique photo in that it is a "cut-out"photo montage over a drawing.

[briolpiano]

Thanks, this piano is made to last!