Beale Piano - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Establishment of piano importing business

Octavius Beale , was a piano manufacturer and a philanthropist.Beale formed a company to import sewing machines and pianos in 1879, after which he established Australia's first piano factory in , 1893...

established a business to import pianos and sewing machines in Sydney in 1884. He imported German upright pianos, of which a few survive today - these are known as "Hapsburg Beale". At that time, it was common practice to import German made pianos and attach local branding.

Prior to establishing this business, Beale had been involved with Hugo Wertheim in a piano and sewing machine importing business in Melbourne.

Australia's first piano manufacturer

In 1893, Beale established Australia’s first piano factory in Sydney. In 1902, Beale opened a new factory at Annandale, which went on to become the largest piano factory in the southern hemisphere in the early 1900s.

Beale introduced the all-iron tuning system, for which a patent was granted in 1902. This tuning system was referred to in earlier Beale pianos as the "Beale-Vader tuning system".

Also, Beale focused on making pianos with local timbers and sought to make pianos which were suited to the changeable Australian climate.

The Beale factory was self-contained and made every element of the pianos, resulting in a broad range of trades working to produce instruments.

Activities conducted in the factory included:

Brass and iron foundries
Timber works, including drying kilns, manufacture of veneers, joinery and cabinetry
Paint and pattern shops
Machining and electroplating
Keyboard action-making and fitting
Tuning and intoning
Polishing rooms
Experimental laboratories

The business continued to operate after Octavius Beale’s death in a car accident in 1930.

Contribution to Australia's War effort

During World War II, production of pianos was suspended to make way for the manufacture of wooden parts for de Havilland Mosquito

De Havilland Mosquito

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...

aircraft.

Post War resumption of production

After World War II, Beale recommenced production of pianos. The business was sold to W. H. Paling & Co. in 1961.

Impact of social change

Social change and the availability of cheap imports led to the decline in demand for pianos. In particular, the availability of recorded music and later the introduction of radio and television, heralded significant change in the pattern of social life in Australia and resulted in a decline in piano-playing.

Cessation of Australian production

Production of pianos in Australia ceased in 1975. It is estimated that Beale produced 95,000 pianos in Australia.

Legacy

While Australia no longer mass produces pianos, there are two Australian manufacturers of very high quality grand pianos- Overs

Overs Piano

Overs Piano is an Australian brand of grand piano, owned by Ron Overs. Overs specialises in the manufacture of grand pianos, as well as their restoration and rebuilding.-Technology:...

and Stuart and Sons

Stuart and Sons

Stuart & Sons is an Australian manufacturer of handcrafted grand pianos established in 1990 as Stuart & Sons Terra Australis Pty Limited. The company later evolved and formed a partnership with Albert Music. Stuart and Sons primarily use Australian timbers for construction. The company is based in...

. Their pianos present a showcase for Australian piano manufacturing.

External links

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