Thursday, April 9, 2015

We used to make things in this country # 190, Goderich Organ Co.




After the Duke made his Otterville post and discovered the origin of his old piano stool, I decided to take a look under the seat of the one we've had around for decades, expecting the same source. However, that was not the case and I discovered yet another industry I had known little about. My stool was made by the Goderich Organ Co. of Goderich Ont. (surprise). This factory was in business from at least 1890 into the 1930s producing world famous organs and later diversifying into toilet and plumbing products. It was part of the huge boom and bust of the piano and organ industry which started in the mid 1800s and died with the advent of the gramophone and then radio. 
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-SOUV_PIC-R-802
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6 comments:

  1. UnknownJune 14, 2015 at 7:42 AM

    Nice chair. I am going to have to take a look at one I have stashed away in the garage attic. Yours appears to look identical to the one I have.

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  2. Michael LynnApril 7, 2017 at 9:04 PM

    I have a Godrich Pump Organ the I'm trying to sell. Can't seem to find a buyer even with the unique history of the company. Can you help me out? Any information spared would be appreciated.

    Thanks,
    ML

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  3. The DukeApril 8, 2017 at 8:59 AM

    You could try contacting the Canadian Piano Museum in Napanee, Ontario: http://www.canadianpianos.ca/

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  4. Old TimerApril 25, 2021 at 12:41 PM

    My Great Grandfather raised his family in a home across the street from the Goderich Organ Factory. I know nothing if that factory so I searched it today. Visiited Goderich a ling time ago,, beautiful town with a town circle by the train station. When the train came to town a couple of times a week the whole town turned out to see who was coming (about 1880 - 1930) even though they didn’t know them. Wish I had that beautiful stool in my tiny home, thank you for sharing.

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  5. UnknownNovember 21, 2021 at 5:15 PM

    My Grandather Alexander Saunders was the owner of the GOC. I visited it when I was a child in the early 1930's. He had passed away by then and the factory no longer built organs, stools etc, but had turned to the latest thing ...toilet seats and bathroom furniture. I thought you might like to know.
    Alex Saunders (age 92)

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  6. Mister GNovember 21, 2021 at 5:57 PM

    Thank you, Alex, it's great to get input from people with first hand knowledge. Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete