A Bell Organ & Piano Co. Ltd. piano built in 1894 in Guelph Ontario has been passed down through five generations of the Lacey family.
The piano was purchased by Albert Lacey (Jan 1887–Apr 1973) for his wife, Elsie (May 1888–Aug 1974) when they lived in Cobalt, Ontario, Albert surprised Elsie with the piano she describes as second-hand in “The Memoirs of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lacey” (Houses of Lacey 2001). The piano moved with the couple and their growing family as they homesteaded in southwestern Saskatchewan. Elsie recalls “…hauling our piano up into the hayloft…and many times…to the school house for a dance.”
The piano was passed onto the couple’s first-born, Madge (Margaret Ingram, Mar 1910–May 1996) who then passed it onto their first-born, Dorothy May. She subsequently passed it onto her daughter, Margaret who passed it onto her daughter, Rhonda. The piano is currently with Rhonda in Drumheller, Alberta. Rhonda wishes to pass it on, preferably to a member of the Lacey family.
DO ALL THE KEYS WORK? Yes
SIZE OF PIANO: n/a
LAST TUNING: n/a
Years: 126 years old, built in 1894
CONDITION OF FINISH: Good with some blemishes
PRICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET FOR THE PIANO: $0
Here is a summary of information about the manufacturing company: Established in 1864 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada by two brothers William and Robert Bell. William managed the company, W. Bell and Co. and a factory was opened. The focus was on production of melodeons and reed organs. A partnership was later formed and the firm eventually sold to an English syndicate; the name changed to the Bell Organ and Piano Co, Ltd.; the manufacture of pianos begun. When piano sales became more popular than organ sales (1907), the company name changed to Bell Piano and Organ Co, Ltd. The company sold to Lesage Pianos in 1934; the Bell design was preserved.
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