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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Bedfordshire => Topic started by: steviebee on Thursday 11 December 08 17:22 GMT (UK)
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Does anybody have any further details about my great great uncle Arthur Day?
Arthur was born in Stopsley, Luton, around 1873 to parents William and Frances. By 1901, both he and his brother Francis became "professors of music" but ten years later Arthur appeared to be running his own business manufacturing pianos. From 1914 he had a shop in George Street, and then later Upper George Street, Luton, where his business remained for many years. From around 1936 he is listed as Arthur Day & Sons Ltd, but who were his sons, and when and whom did he marry? Does anybody have a piano of his? Is his shop still there (I live in Wiltshire and cannot easily get to Luton)? When did he die? I have a few other scant details but any additional information would be great!!
:) :) :)
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whom did Arthur marry?
Was he wed at 1901 (aged 27)?
Pauline
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At the time of the 1901 census Arthur was single and living with his brother Francis, but it is quite possible he married later in the year. The FreeBMD site shows that an Arthur Day did indeed marry in Luton in the December quarter of 1901, so it could be the same guy, in which case his spouse could be Nellie Edwards or Annie Maria Parker (names on the same page). Can't be sure until the 1911 census is released - unless you can tell me otherwise??
Steve
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Afterthought...I'll order the marriage cert anyway. It should give me some idea of his age, and if that fits, then it will confirm his wife's (my 2 x great aunt's) name.
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Hi Steve
Welcome to Rootschat :D
I've checked my various Luton books but sadly no reference to the firm.
Jan ;)
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Have you seen this? Gives a 1911 address
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-forums/piano500.html
Jan ;)
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Day, Arthur music warehouse 8 New Bedford Road from Kelly's Directory of 1903
Day, Arthur music warehouse 13 Chapel Street from Kelly's Directory of 1910
see
http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/index.asp
Jan ;)
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Hi Jan,
Thanks very much for the info and websites. The Historical Directories one was new to me and should prove very useful. It was good to get confirmation of the addresses of his shop.
If you come across anything else, please let me kow. In the meantime, I await that marriage cert though I expect it will be after Christmas now.
Steve :) :D :)
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Hope it's the right cert. Post details if it is.
Jan ;)
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Hi Steve
In both the 1911 & 1917 Luton Year books, Arthur Day is listed at 4 West Hill Road & 13 Chapel Street. In the Trade directory section, it lists him at the Chapel Street address in following 3 sections - Piano Tuners; Musical Instrument Manufacturers & Importers; Teachers of Music.
In both 1936 & 1940 Kellys directories the firm is listed as Arthur Day & Son, Ltd at 15 - 17 Upper George Street.
That's only the one son.
Regards John
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Thanks John. Well spotted!
It all seems to fit. I have also since found out that by 1946 he was still trading as Arthur Day and Son(s?) no longer as piano manufacturers, but now in the business of Radios. By then Arthur would have been about 73 so could well have handed the business over to his son, who clearly decided he knew best! The last recorded entry I have is from 1953, when the business was still trading as Arthur Day and Son, still doing radios, and still at the same address at 15-17 Upper George Street. But what happened to the shop? Is it still there? Who was his son?
Thanks once again, John. Much appreciated.
Steve
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Hi Steve
If you google 15-17 Upper George St Luton - it appears to be known as Connaught House and is now many different businesses. No pictures I can see :(
Of course it may be a newer building anyway.
Jan ;)
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Ah ha! Thanks Jan. That would expain another very recent find - in the phone directories from 1948 until 1953 Arthur Day was listed at address "Room 3 Connaught House", so presumably an office above the main premises. It is definitely the same Arthur, as his phone number is the same as the business (Luton 481, if anyone should care to try!). Surpringly, I have also just found an entry in the 1962 directory for Arthur Day at Connaught House, by which time he would have been 89 years old! Must be good genes in the family (unless his son was also named Arthur, and this is him!).
8) 8)
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Just received Arthur's marriage cert from the GRO ahead of schedule (hurrah!). It is the Arthur in question, as evidenced by his given age, occupation, residence and father's name. He married Annie Maria Parker on 2 October (my birthday!) 1901 in the Wesleyan Chapel, Chapel Street, Luton. His occupation was pianoforte maker, and Annie, who was a year younger than him, was a school teacher also from Luton. Her father was Thomas Parker, a hat warehouseman. I would now like to know what children he had, and who he handed the business over to. Any ideas, or do I need to wait until the 1911 census is available? Is this where a request for a parish register "Look Up" comes in useful?
Happy Christmas to all!
Steve :D :D
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Hi Steve
Glad it is the right marriage :)
Finding the children will be more difficult especially as Day is so common and mother's maiden-name isn't listed in the registers until, I think, 1912. Parish register look-up would be tricky as you wouldn't know which parish and looks as if they might have been non-conformist. Not long till the 1911!
Jan ;)
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Hi I am the great grandson of Arthur Day
Arthur did marry annie maria parker [i wasnot aware of the date as thr family bible has been lost.
There were 2 sons from the union Haydn Arthur Day and Eric Day Both Professional musocoans.
Haydn lived in Edgeware London and ran a music shop in Finchley road London.Eric lived in Cheltenham
Both Haydn and Eric had 3 children 2sons and 1 daughter each.The main business was run from Connaught house in upper george street liton and is now an office block
Arthur died in 1962 and is buried in Luton Cemetry ion Rothesay road Luton .My son and I both have an Arthur Day Piano with original stickers on the lid.I am now hoping to research family tre
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Hi horseboxman. Thanks you so much for passing this information on - it's fantastic! I had checked out the 1911 census and found Arthur, his wife Annie and their sons Haydn and Eric living at 4 Westhill Road, but could get no more information - until your note arrived! (Was Haydn named after the great composer, I wonder?).
As far as your research is concerned, I can supply you with some details regarding your Day ancestry back as far as the early 1700s if you would like, though it's slightly tentative prior to 1750 (any help would be appreciated!). Just let me know.
Thanks once again! ;D :) ;D
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would love to have more details as i have only just started researching the family
Regards Horseboxman
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Hi, i have an Arthur Day Piano i am looking to sell if anyone knows how much they are worth nowadays.
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Old pianos are generally worth very little, as they cannot hold tuning...
Pauline
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In 1919, Luton Town Hall (which stands at the corner of Upper George Street and Manchester Street, facing down George Street) was destroyed after being set alight by rioters angry at the Council's treatment of returning servicemen from WWI. I'm sure I've seen an account in a local history book of the 'peace riot' which says that somebody dragged a piano from the neighbouring piano shop in Upper George Street and accompanied the crowds to 'keep the home fires burning' whilst the Town Hall burned. The present town hall was rebuilt on the same site in the early 1930s.
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An interesting tale which I would have liked to include in my family history narrative, so I investigated further. It seems that Peace Day Riots did indeed take place on July 19th 1919 and resulted in the Town Hall being destroyed by fire. In fact three pianos were dragged out of a neighbouring music shop, but all reports I've seen suggest that this was Farmer's Music Shop and not Arthur Day's. Kelly's 1914 directory, the most recent I have access to, lists a Farmer S & Co, pianoforte warehouses, in 2 Wellington St (also 85 George St), so these were most likely the premises the pianos would have been dragged from. Shame really, a nice little ditty! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
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Lol Richard, yes they pinched the piano out of Day's shop in George Street and they played ''We'll keep the Home Fires Burning'' as they set fire to the Town Hall! ;D I remember me Grandad telling me
I think Day's was well known - and I think there are references to it in the online search site at the Bedfordshire Archives - possibly photos too? The online site is not complete so it may be worth asking if they have photos of the family that are not recorded yet on line. If you can get to Beds archives - go into the search room and look in the file of ''family photos''...
:)
cath
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Found my book I was thinking of - it was Farmer's.
"After a day of uneasy stalemate in which order was only superficially restored, and George Street towards midnight crowded with very excited people, the Town Hall was once more invaded. This time it was ransacked and a fire was started on the ground floor. Petrol was taken from a nearby garage and used to speed the flames. The fire brigade's horses were cut. Shops were looted: a piano was dragged from Farmer's shop, and a pianist attempted to lead the crowd in a rendering of 'Keep the Home Fires Burning'."
The Story of Luton: Dyer, Stygall & Dony, Luton, 1964, p.188
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Old pianos are generally worth very little, as they cannot hold tuning...
Pauline
A good piano lasts for ever if it is well treated!
Andrea
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Volume 57 (1978) of Bedfordshire Historical Record Society publications includes a paper "The 1919 Peace Riots in Luton" by John G Dony, and this states that "three pianos were dragged from a music shop near the corner of Wellington Street". This ties in with an earlier post which gave Farmer's music shop address as 2 Wellington St
David
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Hi
I have a piano Arthur Day (chapel street luton)
;D
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It's good to hear there are still a few around. Thanks for letting me know.
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Sadly I have to add to the information already contained here that both Brian Eric Day and Gregory Day, sons of Eric Day, have both passed away. Hilary remains the only surviving offspring of Eric Day.
There are quite a few grandchildren (I am the eldest remaining) and more great grand children.
My Father, Brian, was very pleased to learn of this website and information contained therein.
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So sorry to hear the sad news. Many thanks for updating me.
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From France I am, also have one piano Arthur day ..
.Was wondering from where was my piano ..
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So now you can see from these posts that your piano was made in Luton, England, by my great uncle's company! Glad to have helped you out. Incidentally, Arthur's brother, Francis Day, was a music teacher, so music was - and still is - an important part of my family.
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I know this thread is quite old, but I'm assuming that some of the family members who have commented here might receive notifications of this message, and this is the first Google result for "Arthur Day Luton" so it seems like an appropriate place to share this information.
I've just bought a Steck Pianola. It seems pretty certain that it's early 1920s, due to its serial number and other features. It's likely 1921/1922.
Although not made by Arthur Day, it has a plate on that says "Arthur Day Pianos Gramophones & Music. 43, 45 George St, Luton"
This isn't an address that I've seen in this thread, so it may be new information for people. I'm assuming this was their address when the piano was new in or around 1921, but it could also feasibly be from a later resale second hand.
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Just picked up your post from last May. What I can now say is that before the First World War, Arthur's music business was in Chapel Street, Luton. After the war, his business grew rapidly and he moved into 41 George Street, which he initially shared with a dentist (Bertram Pannell), and subsequently Fleming Reid & Company, a wool repository. Between 1920 and 1922 he put in plans for shop alterations for 41, 43 and 45 George Street, as he now owned all three properties. From a survey done of the shop in 1928, it sounded huge, and even included a room for "public worship"! As well as pianos, including those from other manufacturers, he also sold other instruments and gramophones. From around 1930, when his sons, Haydn and Eric - both talented musicians in their own right - helped in the running of the business, Arthur also began to sell radios. All of these buildings were demolished for some reason in September 1937, after which Arthur moved his business to 15-17 Upper George Street where it remained until its closure around 1953.
Hope this is interesting for you!