James Brunskill's Musical instrument Shop, Berwick

[Pianomate]

I'm trying to find out anything I can about James Brunskill's music shop at Bridge Street, Berwick on Tweed. I understand he also had a branch in Newcastle upon Tyne. As far as I have been able to determine, the Berwick shop was active at the beginning of the 1900s, and according to an advert I saw, sold pianos, reed organs, harmoniums, melodeons, stringed, woodwind and brass instruments and also dealt in Northumbrian pipes and Scottish bagpipes, and of course was a retailer of sheet music. I seem to remember also seeing old 78rpm sleeves advertising them for gramophones and records, but I can't be sure.

Any info would be appreciated.

[Bill Kibby]

I know that Brunskill & Todd were there in 1914 and 1928, so Todd was added as a partner at some point. I'll see what I can find on card and paper files.

[Bill Kibby]

I am sorry I seem to have overlooked this one until John Brunskill reminded me.

1886 Not listed in Kelly's Directory.

1894 Pianoforte Makers & Warehouses include James Brunskill, Scotswood
Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

1899 Pianoforte Makers & Warehouses include James Brunskill, 175 Westgate
Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

1911 Pianoforte Makers & Warehouses include Mrs Elizabeth Brunskill, 60
Bridge Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed. [When a woman is listed in this way, it often means that the husband has died, and the widow has taken over the business.]

1914 The Music Trades Directory shows that the firm was Brunskill & Todd, still in Berwick.

1928 Same.

[garyhicks]

Hello - I am new to this site. I am writing from Maryland USA about a piano left in my house after I purchased the house. It has what looks like a manufacturer of C. Warup & Co. It also has what looks to be the distributor of J. Brunskill of Berwick on Tweed (UK?). I would love to hear about the history of this piano. Any thoughts out there?

[Bill Kibby]

As I said in my email, the name on the piano is Warne, not Warup. It seems unlikely that anybody will have much more detail about Brunskill.

[braesofwansbeck]

James Brunskill commissioned some original pieces of music - I have a copy of The Berwick Polka by VS de Dobrowolski printed by CG Roder Leipzig under catalogue no JB2 and scored for a large catalogue of instruments! I have been unable to track down either the piece or the composer in any of the usual places, so its all a bit of a mystery!

There was a music shop in Bridge street, Berwick into the late 1970's so could track this down maybe.

[Bill Kibby]

There is some information about Valentine Semibreve de Dobrowolski (1847-96), if you just google the name.

What a wonderful middle name!

"The Music Shop" is still at 7 Bridge Street.

[vernon]

better than Crotchet I suppose