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Dear Friends at MMD,  I have for some time tried to find information
about the early history of National Piano Manufacturing Company in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the following is, in short, what I have
so far:

  1909: The firm, National Piano Mfg. Co., is founded by Clarence
U. Clark and possibly also Walter Ioor.  In the city directory of 1912
it is stated that C. U. Clark is president and treasurer and W. Ioor
is vice-president of the company.

  1909-1925: The firm is also known by the name National Automatic Music
Co. and the main product is a coin-piano (8-selection changer connected
to a Bush & Lane player piano).

  1927: The name is officially changed to Automatic Musical Instrument
Co., but the change has been on the way since 1925.  The company
introduces a 20-selection phonograph, the National Automatic Selective
Phonograph, said to be the first modern style selective phonograph
(jukebox).

  1946: The name of the company is officially changed to AMI, Inc.,
and headed for many years through the 1950s by John W. Haddock.

  1959: The firm is merged with Rowe AC Services in Chicago, a division
of Automatic Canteen Company of America founded in the late 1920s by
Nathaniel A. Leverone.  The president of the new company structure is
Clarence W. Clark.

  1968: The company finally becomes a subsidiary of Triangle Industries,
Inc., in Whippany, New Jersey.

I have the following questions:

1.  Was Clarence W. Clark (1959) a 2nd generation member of the Clark
family connected to the National/AMI company, a son of Clarence U.
Clark?

2.  Does anyone have further information about the National Piano Mfg.
Co. (1909-1927)?

3.  Does anyone have information about possible patents in the names
Clarence U. Clark and/or Walter Ioor?

Best wishes,
Gert J. Almind
Denmark
info@juke-box.dk.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ Mr. Almind is editor of Danish Jukebox Archives,
 [ http://juke-box.dk/  -- Robbie