I have just discovered that my great-great-grandfather, John Tester, sold Steinmayer pianos through his company John Tester & Co Ltd. I was in the Newspaper Library at Colindale and found the reference in the Sewing Machine Gazette of September 1, 1883.
Could anyone tell me anything about Steinmayer? Was this a real German piano manufacturer or an alias for some other company?
Steinmayer
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Steinmayer
Lots of fascinating stuff at Colindale! Steinmayer pianos were around in the 1880s, but very little is known or published about them. In modern times, the name was available as a cheap name transfer. Can you tell me anything about Tester?
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Email via my website.
If you find old references or links on this site to pianogen.org, they should refer to pianohistory.info
Steinmayer
John Tester (1841-1916). He travelled the country demonstrating and selling sewing machines and other domestic appliances. Initially for himself and then for Bradbury & Co. At the end of 1881 he severed ties with Bradbury's and took up the agency for the Gritzner Manufacturing Co., (a German sewing machine manufacturer). This was very successful and the business expanded with branches in London, Birmingham, Belfast, Peterborough, Manchester, Portsmouth, etc. In 1884 the company, John Tester & Co Ltd, was registered as a Limited company. In addition to sewing machines the company sold "perambulators, bicycles, quilting machines, washing and mangling machines, knife-cleaners" and "Steinmayer's far-famed upright and over-strung pianos". Quoted from The Sewing Machine Gazette September 1, 1883.
Business addresses were:-
21, Jewin Street, London.
119, Goswell Road, London.
43, Farringdon Road, London.
10 & 12, Dr Johnson Passage, Birmingham.
51, Upper arthur Street, Belfast.
(If anyone has old photographs of any of the above premises in the 1880s or 1890s it would be wonderful to find one.)
In July 1887 they started advertising Symphonion musical boxes as well as watches and clocks.
John Tester & Co Ltd ceased trading in 1894. In 1896-98 John Tester was involved in the early cinema industry with his son John Frederick Tester using the company name British Toy & Novelty Co.
(see entry in Who's Who in Victorian Cinema, book and website).
After that he returned to Bradbury & Co for about a year 1901-02. After which he retired.
Business addresses were:-
21, Jewin Street, London.
119, Goswell Road, London.
43, Farringdon Road, London.
10 & 12, Dr Johnson Passage, Birmingham.
51, Upper arthur Street, Belfast.
(If anyone has old photographs of any of the above premises in the 1880s or 1890s it would be wonderful to find one.)
In July 1887 they started advertising Symphonion musical boxes as well as watches and clocks.
John Tester & Co Ltd ceased trading in 1894. In 1896-98 John Tester was involved in the early cinema industry with his son John Frederick Tester using the company name British Toy & Novelty Co.
(see entry in Who's Who in Victorian Cinema, book and website).
After that he returned to Bradbury & Co for about a year 1901-02. After which he retired.
Gavin