1920

Packard Bond Player Piano

After the Great Chicago Fire, Isaac Terrell Packard relocated to Fort Wayne and established the Fort Wayne Organ Company in 1871, which would come to be known as the Packard Piano Company about 1907. Organs and pianos were manufactured at its plant at Packard and Fairfield Avenues. During World War I, the Packard Piano Company converted its factory to produce aircraft propellers for the United States Air Service. Packard Company's use of fine woods and elegant cabinet design styles earned them a reputation for producing high quality musical instruments. In addition to the Packard brand name, the firm built pianos under the names of Bond Piano Company and Elsinger Piano Company. The Packard name managed to survive the Great Depression, but the local factory closed in 1930. The property was sold to the city of Fort Wayne in 1937 and was developed as Packard Park. The Packard trademark was purchased by the Story & Clark Piano Company who continued to build pianos under the Packard name until the middle of the twentieth century. Made by the Packard Piano Company in Fort Wayne, this Bond Piano was purchased by a local family in 1920. Last patented on 20 November 1917, the ivory keys can be played by a pianist or operated by foot pedals to pump air through a rotating paper roll which actuated the keys to play a chosen medley. Bond Pianos were a more economical line of pianos produced by Packard for consumers looking for high quality at a lower price.