James Smith c1885-1910

[PenTaylor]

Dear All,

I have been given your forum address by the Who Do You Think You Are magazine with regard to tracing an ancester of my husband.

James Smith, born approximately 1854 in London, has his occupation given as pianoforte maker on the birth certificate of one of his daugters in 1884. I have been unsuccessful in finding his marriage to Annie Millard and I know that he lived in Hammersmith, Middlesex in 1881 and subsequently moved to the Chiswick area.

If anyone knows of any companies active at that time 1885 - 1910 approx. or makers guilds etc I would be interested.

I understand that you do welcome enquires and would be grateful for any information or help you may be able to give. Any line of enquiry would be much appreciated.

Regards
Pen Taylor

[Bill Kibby]

If you are doing family research in the census records, “Pianoforte Manufacturer” implies an employer, in business in his own name, and therefore traceable, whereas “Pianoforte maker” suggests an employee. Also, although “pianoforte maker” may bring to mind a picture of a man making the whole piano from start to finish, in reality, most of these workers specialised in certain specific skills of the many required for the process of manufacture. There is no way of actively researching the thousands of employees of the hundreds of piano factories, or knowing which factories they worked for, but please do keep in touch with me at the Piano History Centre, in case anything new turns up next week or next year. Smith is, of course, a difficult name! I will check just in case James was listed as a business in his own name.