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MMD > Archives > September 2003 > 2003.09.05 > 08Prev  Next


Unknown Player Action in Canadian Piano
By Ken Vinen

Hi all -- The pictures are not up yet, but here is some information
from the publication exclusive for Canadian Pianos called "Downright
Upright", by Wayne Kelly.

  WRIGHT PIANO COMPANY LTD. -- A retail business that started selling
boots and shoes in Strathroy, Ontario, in 1865, and evolved into a
piano manufactory by 1908.  James Wright, founder, passed on his love
of music and the piano to his five sons, all of whom were at one time
involved in the business.  Although piano construction ended in April
1920 -- by which time total production of the high-quality Wright Piano
had reached more than 4,000 units -- the name Wright Piano Company
survived until the early 1930's.  An orchestra, made up of four Wright
brothers and two other musicians, gained wide acclaim in southwestern
Ontario, during that decade.

There is a picture in my book, but the quality is too poor for
scanning.  I will watch for the player action pictures and can probably
tell what the action was as I am most familiar with Canadian players,
having an interest spanning fifty years now.

I live in the area of Strathroy and could see what comes of a search in
their local archives, but my personal opinion at this time would tell
me that another piano company supplied the basics for the Wright Piano.

There were many major piano builders in the Clinton, Seaforth, Durham
areas of Ontario, who did their own metal casting, etc., and I am
certain that a major supply to the "stencil" market came from these
places.

Regards to all from Ken Vinen, Stratford, Ontario, Canada.


(Message sent Fri 5 Sep 2003, 15:31:44 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Action, Canadian, Piano, Player, Unknown

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