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An upright instrument of elegant structure in rosewood, with metallic plate, and a keyboard extending to 6 ¼ octaves, has for several years been made by them, at thirty guineas. Since the end of last year, the price of this instrument, for the excellence of which we have seen high testimonies, has been reduced to twenty-five guineas. We find that our friend Mr Purdie of Edinburgh makes similar instruments at the same price. D'Almaine and Co. have even succeeded in producing instruments in fine cases, which they will be able to offer at twenty guineas, or, if successful with a contemplated substitute for ivory, at twenty pounds, the latter being the price which we have ideally set up as that which would secure a great extension of the use of the instrument among the middle classes of the people." Chambers's Journal, Volume 14, 1851, p. 46
Mr. D'Almaine died, we forget how many years ago, and a sale of his stock of music plates, &c., took place as far back as 1867. But in 1876 Messrs. Grover & Grover appeared on the scene, and purchased the right to use the name of D'Almaine, even as they had before purchased the right to use the name of Avill and Smart. They had, of course, a perfect right to do so, and to use the name after they had bought it. An announcement was issued in December, 1876, to the effect that, "owing to the decease of the proprietor," the stock of 780 pianofortes and other keyed instruments" would be sold, and the public would thereby be able to have a "high-class piano at cost price." There were pianos of all sorts, from a "first-class Brilliant Cottage piano as low as sixteen and seventeen guineas" to a "magnificent grand at forty-five guineas." In March, 1877, an advertisement was issued that "704 pianos remained" out of "780 pianofortes in course of construction at the death of the proprietor," and it was averred that "a most exceptional opportunity" occurred "to the public, trade, and profession, such as does not offer in a lifetime." It was, we were told, "attempted to clear the whole by auction by a series of sales: the first sale proved that it would be wiser to make up the stock and offer the advantage to the public, who can now be supplied at less than the usual cost of making these high-class pianos." One month later, on April Ist (auspicious day) there were "704 pianofortes still in hand," so that the business done during the month of March was not of a particularly brilliant sort. April, however, really did prove an auspicious month, for by May 1st there were only 633 pianos left, and by June Ist there were only 588. No pianos, however, nos, however, appear to have been sold during June (in June (in the height of the fashionable season), for the advertisement on July 1st states, "588 are still on hand"; but by August Ist 485 only remained to be sold "at half-price." At the present day 200 are said to be left; and we shall wish Messrs. Grover & Grover, in their attempt to rid themselves of them, all the good fortune they deserve. When they are gone, Messrs. Grover & Grover have purchased the right to use the name; and they are quite at liberty to manufacture pianos, and put upon them the name of "D'Almaine," if they choose to do so. We shall hope that this good time will not be long coming, -not because D'Almaine's pianos are likely to be either better or worse than are those of Messrs. Grover & Grover, but because, when D'Almaine's stock is exhausted, Messrs. Grover & Grover will be relieved of the necessity to, "in order to effect a speedy clearance," sell "at half-price." The only marvel is, that a stock which can be purchased by the general public at so economical a rate should have lasted so long as it has." Music Trades Review, 15/03/1878, p. 12
D'ALMAINE
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