A unique collection of historic papers from the Duck, Son & Pinker music store is available to view at Bath’s Record Office.
The Council has recovered a fascinating array of sales ledgers, sheet music catalogues, newspaper adverts and photographs from the iconic store on Pulteney Bridge, which closed its doors for the last time in April 2011, after almost 170 years of trading.
Although the store’s stock of music and instruments was auctioned off to private buyers, the paperwork and memorabilia was donated to Bath Record Office to preserve this historic asset for the public.
Colin Johnston, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Principal Archivist, said: “We received a call in June to take it all away on the day the store was being stripped out. We managed to rescue a number of items from the basement and cellars which were dirty, damp, and mouldy because they had been stored underground and near the river. However, after months of careful drying and cleaning they are now fit for public handling.
“The earliest book we have is from 1842 to 1860 but they were still recording the sales in handwritten ledgers right up until the year 2000. The first account book shows that, as well as pianos, they also sold a harp, violin strings and a barrel organ. Alongside their piano tuning work, they also did organ repairs and rebuilds, such as at Downside Church, Midsomer Norton Chapel and Dyrham Church.
“The firm produced its own catalogues of sheet music, probably prior to the First World War. There were thousands of music scores you could buy from them in a time when you sat around the piano after dinner to entertain your friends and family with polkas, waltzes and operas.
“We have books containing all the Duck, Son & Pinker press advertisements issued, as well as one of the original metal printing plates used to publish their logo. There’s also a photograph of the workers who made the pianos in the workshop, possibly from the 1950s, and some people might even recognise them as members of their family.”
Bath Record Office, in the Guildhall, collects and preserves historical records relating to Bath and makes them available for research to anyone who wishes to use them.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “This latest collection supports Bath & North East Somerset Council in building an important record of Bath’s heritage right up to the recent past. We encourage anyone with an interest in local history to check out the Bath Record Office – you may be surprised at what you can find.”
The Bath Record Office is open for research from Tuesday to Friday each week, except the third full week of the month.
Opening times:
* Tuesday to Thursday – 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
* Friday – 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm
For more information, contact Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Bath Record Office, Guildhall, High Street, Bath BA1 5AW, telephone 01225 477421 or email [email protected].
