Hello Elaine,  In response to your question about the Amherst Piano
in MMD 990508, I have copied an excerpt from "Downright Upright --
A History of the Canadian Piano Industry", by Wayne Kelly, ISBN
0-920474-60-8.  I hope this provides you with the information you need.

Best Regards,

Jim Heyworth,
Sechelt, B.C., Canada

 [ I hope author Wayne Kelly won't mind that we publish this
 [ rather long excerpt, but rather will appreciate the exposure.
 [ He sets forth a lot of solid history in his jocular style.
 [ -- Robbie

AMHERST PIANOS - The heyday of the piano had been very good to the
McDonald Piano and Music Company, the largest piano retailer in Mari-
time Canada in 1910.  J. A. McDonald had every reason to smile as he
built branch after branch in major centres all across Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick.  But by 1912 his annual sales were outstripping the
capacity of the major piano factory with which he had been dealing.
"Why don't we open one up here, boys!" must have been his wide-eyed
call as he proposed a piano factory for his hometown of Amherst.
Within days enough businessmen and investors had jumped on his band-
wagon and $500,000 capital had been secured.

Hiring many of the top designers and personnel from the dying Blundall
Piano Company, Toronto, and buying up the existing small company of
H. A. Hillcoat Pianos, Amherst, the new firm Amherst Pianos Ltd. had
production well underway by early 1913.

Almost immediately the company began capitalizing on the player-piano
craze.  A well-made, but pricey item, its $750 player was offered as
first prize in 1913 to the person who sold the most subscriptions to
the Busy East magazine.  Soon, the aggressive firm had built up a net-
work of 200 retail dealers from Quebec City to Vancouver, and was even
exporting its uprights to Europe.  Following the great explosion of 16
December 1917 in Halifax harbour, a "scratch and dent" sale was held in
Amherst.  With an ad that was circulated far and wide, the company
promised to sell this lot of pianos on terms of $2 down and $1 a week,
adding that "no matter where you live, come here to this sale.  We will
pay freight on any piano.  We will pay your railway fare to and from
the sale.  We will give you a stool.  We will give you an iron clad
guarantee."  Who could refuse?

By 1925 or so slick campaigns and giveaways weren't enough to keep the
company afloat.  Nor was diversification into organ repair and even
gramophone production.  Rising freight rates and increasing competition
from other forms of entertainment caused Amherst Pianos Ltd. to close
its doors in 1928.  A small group of Amherst workers picked up some of
the company equipment, actions and piano parts, and formed the Cumber-
land Piano Company.  This firm possibly operated in a small way in
Amherst (and later Toronto), but there is no record of it past 1930.

 [ end of excerpt from "Downright Upright" ]