Willis & Co. is a piano manufacturer, formerly founded in 1884 by Alexander Parker Willis and based in Landshut, Bavaria, Germany.[4] A retailer of Willis & Co. in Canada was sold by the Willis family in 1967,[4] and went out of business in 1979.[5] The global branch was merged with the Landshut Willis company in Germany.[4]

Willis & Co. Limited
Company typePrivate company
IndustryMusical instruments[1]
Founded1884[2]
FounderAlexander Parker Willis[3]
Headquarters
Landshut, Germany
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsGrand pianos and upright pianos
Websitewillispiano.com

History

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In 1884, a retailer of Willis & Co. was established in Quebec, Montreal[6] by Alexander Parker Willis.[4]

In 1900, Willis & Co. acquired the major shares of the Lesage & Fils piano factory.[7]

In 1907, Willis & Co. purchased controlling interest in the Lesage Piano Company and the firm started producing “Willis & Company” brand pianos full time.[8]

In 1910, at its peak, Willis & Co. made close to 3000 pianos each year.[9]

In 1967, the Canadian retailer was vended by the Willis family, and the global branch was merged with the Landshut Willis company in Germany.[4]

On August 30, 1976, brand Willis (registered number:DE948592[10]) was approved by German Patent and Trade Mark Office.[10]

Willis' latest trademark update time took place on June 29, 2016,[11] whose current registered number is DE302016214832.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Lisgar Collegiate Institute. Vox Lycei 1928-1929. Lisgar Alumni Association. pp. 43–. GGKEY:YRY9YYJW6E7.
  2. ^ Pierce Piano Atlas, Volume 12. Bob Pierce. 2008. ISBN 9780911138078. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  3. ^ "Willis & Company". antiquepianoshop.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e "About Willis & Co. Pianos". willispiano.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  5. ^ "Willis & Company Ltd.-The Canadian Encyclopedia". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Feb 7, 2006.
  6. ^ W.H. New; William Herbert New (6 August 2003). A History of Canadian Literature. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 376–. ISBN 978-0-7735-2597-9.
  7. ^ Robert Palmieri (June 2004). The Piano: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. pp. 219–. ISBN 978-1-135-94964-8.
  8. ^ "Willis clan left mark in entertainment, news industries". Retrieved 23 Aug 2011 – via PressReader.
  9. ^ Willis & Company. Retrieved 12 March 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10. ^ a b "WIPO Global Brand Database DE948592 - Willis". World Intellectual Property Organization. August 30, 1976.
  11. ^ "Registerauskunft des Deutschen Patent- und Markenamtes". German Patent and Trade Mark Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "WIPO Global Brand Database DE302016214832 - Willis". World Intellectual Property Organization. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
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