“Just like before . . . , it’s yesterday once more.”
The Bush & Lane Piano Company of Chicago was established in 1891. Their higher grand instruments were sold all over the United States and especially well known for their elaborate cabinets and lavish use of exotic and rare woods.
The firm was made up of a group of industry experts who tirelessly studied the science of piano manufacturing. They were constantly improving their instruments in order to offer the finest quality in sound and craftsmanship possible. Sadly, the Great Depression forced them out of business in 1931.
I’m lucky enough to own a vintage Bush & Lane baby grand piano. I often wonder about its storied past and how it ended up in Seattle. I guess I’ll never know.
Sometimes on a rainy afternoon, I sit on its ornate bench and tickle those aged ivories. I imagine Mozart’s Sonata No. 11 gracing the marbled parlor of a fine Chicago mansion. Or even a Victorian home of a turn-of- the-century family. I feel honored to be included in that long number of previous owners that once upon a time, made this magnificent musical instrument sing.