William Thomson & Son, Glasgow

[sgcastrejon]

Hello everybody,

I recently made an enquiry to this forum on the styling of my recently acquired 1920s Danemann piano. The instrument has now been delivered to me, and I am curious about the dealer who originally sold it, as I haven't been able to find any information online. According to an incised inscription on top of the keyboard (right hand side), it would be:
William Thomson & Son; 7 to 19 Govan Rd., Glasgow.
& at Paisley, Clydebank, Hamilton, Falkirk & Greenock

Many thanks in advance,

Sara

[Bill Kibby]

Thomson's firm became "& Son" around 1920, and continued until 1973. Many pianos sold by them have survived but, like the vast majority of piano names, they are not listed on the internet.

[sgcastrejon]

Dear Bill Kibby,

Thanks ever so much for your reply. The history of local dealers seems almost as interesting as the history of pianos itself and an important part of the local heritage. My piano still bears what I assume it was the shop registration number: Reg. No.809124 (in the inside of the lid, on the bottom left corner).

[hotpolo]

Piano special listen, I very like to learn the piano.

[Robert Pool]

1937 William Thomson & Son, Piano and Organ Merchants, 7 to 19 Govan Road, Glasgow by Robert Pool's Glasgow Collection, on Flickr

[Bill Kibby]

Thanks for that, it's a shame we can't see it properly, the sign-in wants something I can't give it.

[Robert Pool]

Thanks for that, it's a shame we can't see it properly, the sign-in wants something I can't give it.

I don't understand!

[Bill Kibby]

I can't get signed into flickr, so the whole point of them having pictures is lost. It would be nice to see a simple jpg.

[Robert Pool]

can you not see the photo l inserted into the thread or is it just a 'Link' to the photo? Can anyone see the photo in the thread or is it just me?

[Bill Kibby]

Sorry if I am confusing you, the photo is there, just very small. Flickr talks about high resolution, but I can't access it.

[Robert Pool]

I can see the photo very clearly and l can read it clearly. Are you accessing this site on a mobile phone as that's the only way it's going to look small on the thread? Surely l can't be the only person to have uploaded a photo to the site.

[Bill Kibby]

I got a reasonable copy by ignoring flickr and saving from your image here.

[joe]

Thomson had a long business relationship with Danemann pianos,the last 2 sons trained in their factory as apprentices,and where excellent tuner/techs,in 1973 they where bought over by the Clydesdale Elertical Retailers who where more interested selling T.V,records players etc and kept Wm Thomson on more as a figurehead doing some sales,only lasted a few years then sold on a few times more and finally ceased trading 1990,shame really as the family starting trading in the 1830 and created a huge import business transporting household goods from the U.S to U.K as well as pianos,quite a story.

[Bill Kibby]

Thanks for the interesting notes, a little more that you didn't give us before. It is difficult to know why he claimed to have been established in 1830, but...

1844 Not listed in the Glasgow Directory as a maker or tuner.
1864 Not listed as a maker or tuner.
1875 Not listed as a maker, tuner or seller.
1884 Not listed as a maker, tuner or seller.

Sources halfway down the page at
http://pianohistory.info/our.html

[tronkel]

I worked for William Thomson in West George St Glasgow in 1974, just after they were taken over by Clydesdale. Bill Thomson taught me to tune there. I eventually completed my training at the Newark piano/violin school in Nottinghamshire. Bill Thomson retired to Cala D'Or Majorca in 1982 where he had a piano that I had french-polished for him in Glasgow. Sylvia York, the daughter of Alfie Knight of Knight pianos also lived there. The name 'Beethoven House' was used for the original premises at Govan Rd, Glasgow and was also used for the flagship West George St. Glasgow branch (Clydesdale branch designation 913).
The connection to Beethoven must be related to the 1830's at the time of the foundation of the original firm by Bill's grandfather.
Notable enployees were:
Davie Harrow, branch manager, Davie Boyle, workshop manager, Ollie Ruxton, organ demonstrator plus many others including West End Removers who did most of the piano deliveries. The trail goes cold after 1982, so I would love to hear from anyone who knows any more. I'm retired now living in Vienna, Austria and often look back to these times in Glasgow with great affection.

[Lindaxslade]

I have a ‘Beethoven’ piano. The original owners were Scottish.
It also has the stamp awarded diploma and prize medal at the Franco british exhibition in 1898. The owners name would be Leventon. Is this significant?

[cassidybole]

I worked for William Thomson in West George St Glasgow in 1974, just after they were taken over by Clydesdale. Bill Thomson taught me to tune there. I eventually completed my training at the Newark piano/violin school in Nottinghamshire. Bill Thomson retired to Cala D'Or Majorca in 1982 where he had a piano that I had french-polished for him in Glasgow. Sylvia York, the daughter of Alfie Knight of Knight pianos also lived there. The name 'Beethoven House' was used for the original premises at Govan Rd, Glasgow and was also used for the flagship West George St. Glasgow branch (Clydesdale branch designation 913).
The connection to Beethoven must be related to the 1830's at the time of the foundation of the original firm by Bill's grandfather.
Notable enployees were:
Davie Harrow, branch manager, Davie Boyle, workshop manager, Ollie Ruxton, organ demonstrator plus many others including West End Removers who did most of the piano deliveries. The trail goes cold after 1982, so I would love to hear from anyone who knows any more. I'm retired now living in Vienna, Austria and often look back to these times in Glasgow with great affection.

Do you also work with violin or you specialise in piano?