H.Duncan Callow, Forest Gate, E.

[Bill Kibby]

I take it that the surname is Callow? Forest Gate was on the edge of London and Essex, near where I used to live, and the "E." suggests that it might be before 1917. I'll see what I can find, but numbers are no help here.

[Bill Kibby]

Sometimes, tuners would buy in pianos from one of the London wholesale factories, and put their own name on them. The only references to Callow we have on file so far are these two:

1895 Kelly’s Directory of Essex; Pianoforte Tuners include Duncan Callow, 100 Carlyle Road, Manor Park.
1899 Kelly’s Directory of Essex; Pianoforte Tuners include Hy. D. Callow, 100 Carlyle Road, Manor Park.

Manor Park is close to Forest Gate, on the borders of Essex and Greater London...

[tompion]

I was particularly interested to come across your reference to my great grandfather, Henry Duncan Callow, who, apparently, tuned a piano currently owned by one of your members, and to see the references from Kelly's directory of his being at 100 Carlyle Road, Forest Gate.

Our family history recounts him as being an organist (at All Saint's, Forest Gate, among other places; he was organist there 1891-1918) and piano teacher. We have no record of his having been a piano tuner - unlike his relative by marriage, and my grandfather, Albert Flay.

If you are able to give any further information about either of these, I would be very grateful to receive it, at my email address of tompion90 (at) hotmail.com.

Many thanks in anticipation,

Stephen Moore

[Bill Kibby]

Would Albert Flay have been in Essex as well?

[tompion]

No, Albert Flay lived in Wood Green, and was active mainly between the wars. He was a blind piano tuner and teacher

S Moore

[Bill Kibby]

It may be a few days before I can get to the files.

[Bill Kibby]

I haven't found anything yet, but I haven't forgotten!