This (about 1854) was altered to Paterson & Sons when MR. JOHN WALKER PATERSON (born about 1825; died 12th August, 1881), eldest son of the founder, and MR. WILLIAM MURRAY, of Ayr (born about 1824; died November, 1893), were adopted as partners, Mr. Roy having retired, owing to weak health.

In 1855 a new shop was opened in Glasgow, of which Mr. J. W. Paterson took charge until his lamented death. This is now under the management of MR. ALEXANDER MURRAY (son of Mr. W. Murray), and has assumed magnificent proportions, being the largest music saloon in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

MR. ROBERT ROY PATERSON, a younger son, was also received as a partner shortly after his father's death, and superintends the Edinburgh business.

He is favourably known to the musical public as the composer of several tasteful songs and pianoforte pieces, mostly written under the names of "Alfred Stella" and "Pierre Pierrot." As publishers their chief specialty for many years was an edition of the "Songs of Scotland" (edited by Finlay Dun and Professor John Thomson), begun in 1837 (reprinted 1880); but within these few years they have shown great enterprise in publishing many songs, dances, etc.; also several collections of part music, among others the "Strathearn" and "Strathclyde" series, a set of "Gaelic Part Songs," harmonised by Lambeth, Yorkston, Patterson, and others; Hamish MacCunn's cantatas, "Bonnie Kilmeny" and "The Cameronian's Dream," etc We may add that, within the last thirty years, they have opened branches in the following towns : - Perth, Ayr (1865), Dundee, Dumfries (1884), and Paisley (1886), all under the designation of Paterson, Sons & Co., with the exception of Edinburgh, which remains Paterson & Sons." Musical Scotland, Past and Present. Being a Dictionary of Scottish Musicians ..., David Baptie, 1894, p. 145

"PATERSON, SONS & CO., PIANOFORTE, HARMONIUM, AND AMERICAN ORGAN WARE-ROOMS, 152, Buchanan Street, Glasgow - THE spread of musical knowledge and culture in England and Scotland during the last half-century is a subject of congratulation to our so-called “unmusical nation.”

We have probably made more genuine progress in this most interesting and universal of all the arts than has any other nation in modern times — a fact which is pretty well indicated in the manner in which leading British composers are now gaining recognition and applause abroad.

The dissemination of good music among the people is largely dependent upon the enterprise of the music trade, and in this connection it is a pleasure to mention the name of Messrs. Paterson, Sons & Co., who have done so much for the cause of the “divine art” in North Britain.

This eminent firm, founded very early in the present century, are leaders of the trade in Scotland, and have built up one of the largest and most successful music businesses in Europe, having, in addition to their Glasgow house and their famous establishment in George Street, Edinburgh, branches at 34,Newmarket Street, Ayr; 100, English Street, Dumfries; King Street, Kilmarnock; Terrace Buildings, Paisley; Reform Street, Dundee; and 17, Princes Street, Perth. The Glasgow establishment, with which we are now more particularly concerned, is a very handsome and commodious warehouse, finely situated in Buchanan Street, and affording every convenience for a high-class music trade.

On the ground floor is a noble sale-room and show-room, stocked with every requisite of the trade, including all the new music of the day, and all the best editions of standard and classical works. The fact that the firm hold a special appointment as music-sellers to the Queen, and that they are patronised by the elite of the profession and of amateur musical circles, affords a sufficient guarantee of the completeness and high character of the stock in their music department.

Equally notable is their department for musical instruments, upon which great care is bestowed, and the remarkable variety of instruments displayed in their show-rooms (to speak only of pianofortes, harmoniums, and American organs) is explained by the circumstance that they are sole agents here for such celebrated makers as Steinway & Sons, Bechstein of Berlin, Kirkman & Son, Squire & Sons, the Brooklyn Pianoforte Company, and the Estey Organ Company. 

The fine instruments of all these and various other esteemed makers are well represented in the firm’s splendid stock, an inspection of which will reveal the wonderful degree of perfection to which the art of musical-instrument manufacture has been carried in these times.

It is not for us to pronounce an opinion as to the comparative merits of the various instruments here on view. Messrs. Paterson have solved a difficult problem by making a selection sufficiently comprehensive to satisfy the tastes and requirements of every cultivated musician. One player likes one maker, another prefers another, and it is for the seller to provide for all demands likely to be made upon him.

This Messrs. Paterson have done, with the one reservation that no instruments of inferior make or unreliable quality are admitted into their ware-rooms. They have an unblemished reputation of many years’ standing to maintain, and they consistently refrain from lending the influence of their well-known name to promote the sale of any instrument in which they are unable to place their confidence.

The present principals of this representative music firm are Messrs. R. R. Paterson, Alexander Murray, William Murray, and John Murray, all of whom possess a thorough knowledge of their interesting trade in its every detail. They personally attend to the affairs of the business, and supervise its routine with untiring energy and sound judgment.

Mr. Paterson manages the Edinburgh house, and Mr. Alexander Murray the Glasgow one; while Mr. John Murray takes charge of the important branches at Ayr, Dumfries, and Kilmarnock. The firm are known throughout the musical world as publishers, music-sellers, and musical-instrument dealers, and no house in the trade enjoys the support of a more valuable connection.

As music appeals to every heart and mind that is rightly constituted, and exerts its refining influence alike in the cottage of the artisan and in the castle of the prince, it is appropriate that in this volume of reviews, dealing with a wide range of representative trades and industries, space should be found for a brief mention of a firm whose energies have been be effectively applied to the advancement of the one art that is universal—the one art that speaks intelligibly in every language, and is hampered by no law of race, or condition of social status." Progress-Commerce 1894, Rivers of the North, 1894 (messybeast.com)