R. S. Williams & Sons

R. S. Williams & Sons was musical instrument manufacturing company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario with a factory located in Oshawa, Ontario.

History

The company was founded in Toronto in 1855 by Richard S. Williams.[1] After completing his apprenticeship in 1853 with Toronto melodeon maker William Townsend, Williams continued to work for Townsend. After a move to Hamilton, Townsend's business failed in 1855; Williams took over the bankrupt company, and returned the business to Toronto.[2] He started by making mandolins and banjos, and later melodeons and organs, at a store on Queen Street.[1]

In 1873 Williams established The Canadian Organ & Piano Company to house his growing piano-manufacturing business, while maintaining a retail store on Yonge Street.[1] In 1885 the company built a large factory on Hayter Street.[3] By this time the company employed about 150 instrument builders, as well as ten travelling salesmen, and had opened a showroom in London, Ontario.[4]

In 1888 Williams' son Robert took control of the Canadian Organ & Piano Company; it was moved to Oshawa, Ontario (then a small town) where it took over a large building previously used by the Joseph Hall Works.[5] This arm of the company was renamed The R. S. Williams Piano Company of Oshawa.[6][7]

In 1891 the factory building was damaged by fire, but repaired.[8] In 1909 the name of the Oshawa factory was amended again to R. S. Williams & Sons, Ltd.[9]

In 1912 the company donated a large collection of musical instruments to the newly opened Royal Ontario Museum.[10] Robert Williams became president of the company after his father's death.[11]

R. S. Williams & Sons ceased business in Toronto because of bankruptcy in 1927; the Oshawa factory closed down in 1931.[2] The factory building was demolished in 1968.[12]

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References
  1. "R.S. Williams & Sons". The Canadian Encyclopedia, by Helmut Kallmann, Carl Morey, and Florence Hayes, February 7, 2006
  2. Under the Sign of the Big Fiddle: The R.S. Williams Family, Manufacturers and Collectors of Musical Instruments. Dundurn; 15 October 1996. ISBN 978-1-896219-17-2.
  3. Emerson Bristol Biggar. Canada: A Memorial Volume. E. B. Biggar; 1889. p. 11.
  4. "History of Toronto and County of York in Ontario - Part IV: Toronto: Manufacturing Industries". 1885. via the "Electric Canada" website
  5. "LH1039 Williams Piano co. - Exterior". Oshawa Library photograph collection, via Our Ontario, accessed Feb 19, 2020
  6. Bob Pierce. Pierce Piano Atlas. Bob Pierce; 2008. p. 393.
  7. Musical Courier. Vol. 18-19. 1889. p. 480.
  8. "The Music Trade" Musical Courier. Vol. 23. 1891. p. 110.
  9. "Nickel Notes". AMICA Bulletin, January/February 2014.
  10. Rotunda. Vol. 15-17. Royal Ontario Museum.; 1982. p. xliv.
  11. Robert F. Gellerman. Gellerman's International Reed Organ Atlas. Vestal Press; 5 May 1998. ISBN 978-1-4617-3135-1. p. 268.
  12. Pictorial Oshawa, by Thomas Bouckley, page 6
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