George Russell Pianos

Carol Woodger · Post by **Carol Woodger** » 09 Oct 2008, 15:21

I am currently researching my family history and have discovered a link to Charles Russell Pianoforte maker.
Can anyone tell me if Charles Russell has any connection to George Russell pianos in Stanhope Street? The only clue I have to Charles' London location is an address on his daughters marriage certificate of 32 Montpelier Street - presumably his private address. The year is 1898.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 09 Oct 2008, 18:24

References to "pianoforte maker" in census records tend to be employees, and we have no way of tracing them by active research unless they were in business in their own name. All I can tell you is that around that time, Charles Russell was described as the "sole distributor" for Ernst Kaps (Dresden) in the U.K, but some Kaps pianos of the period were also "Manufactured Expressly for Keith, Prowse & Co., London". Charles seems to have been a dealer rather than a maker, although he may well have been trained in piano-making. There was also a dealer named Charles Russell in Swindon, 1886.