Healy & Richards piano manufacturer up to 1911

[johnhealy]

I am interested in finding about this piano manufacturer. My Grandfather was john Miles Healy who owned the company until it was wound up in 1911. The last place of manufactrure was at albion Works, Lampeter Street, Shepperton Road, Islington, North London.
I believe that my Grandfather bought out Richards at some point. I understand that at one point the company were making maybe 50 pianos a week - though this could be way off and the stuff of myth; but if true it would seem to have been a good product. I was also told that it was known that my grandfather - presumably the worse for drink - was known to have visited the factory say late on a Friday night and to have sledge hammered pianos that he considered to be of poor quality. Little wonder the business went bust!
I would be very grateful to receive any information on this company and its products. I understand that pianos were sold under brand names rather than manufacturer's names. However, my mother in law many years ago was reading a book about a lady missionary in China who was said to have shipped out a Healy piano from London.
My father, Walter Healy and his brother John, tried to revive the business by attempting to build pianos (probably between the wars in the west London area - Southall, Hayes maybe), but were never able to make enough money to build an extra piano to make the business grow.
Regards
John Healy

[Bill Kibby]

The Albion Works address is very familiar to me, but not under that name, so I'll search for it, and see what I can find.

[johnhealy]

Many thanks Bill - It would be great if you were able to come up with something.
John Healy