PIANO - UPRIGHT RONISCH
1857 - 2005Upright piano with steel frame and walnut veneer, ivory keys and two metal pedals at base in centre. Lid over keys curved at front. On inside of lid is a wood music shelf that folds down. Above this is a black label with text. Gold coloured text under shelf.
Inside piano are the strings and felt covered hammers. In top right corner moulded text on a metal panel. Mid way along the inside near the top are black numbers printed vertically.
On front of piano above the keys are three moulded inlays. Central inlay is oval shaped. End inlays more square shaped. In the middle of each of these inlays is a brass candle holder that can swivel on its horizontal axis.
The piano was first purchased by George Dumsday in Melbourne on the 20th of September 1887 from WH Glen & Co. The Dumsday family moved to Western Australia in early 1900 bringing the piano with them. In 1908 the family moved to Forrestdale, then known as East Jandakot a newly established area West of Armadale. Though the town was originally in the Jandakot Roads Board the families living in the area were more closely connected to Armadale. The piano was played by the sisters Mabel and Lillian. It was carted down to Lake Jandakot in 1911 for the first Christmas Tree Fête. It was also moved to the hall for concerts and sometimes for Sunday School.
Mabel and Lillian were gifted musicians and singers often performing in Perth.
The piano was passed down through the Skeet side of the family to Kathryn Skeet who used to play it before donating the piano to the museum. Part of Ursula Skeet's will was that if the family did not want the piano it had to be donated to History House - see associated SIG file for letter from Robert Skeet about this.
Details
Details
Above shelf [IMPORTED BY / WH GLEN & Co / MELBOURNE] under shelf [RONISCH] inside piano [C ROENISCH / DRESDEN] number [5599]
The Dumsday family played an important role in establishing Forrestdale in the early 1900s. The piano was purchased when the family lived in Victoria and was brought with them when they came to Western Australia in c1900. The piano was used by successive generations of the family for for 150 years.
The piano was used in Forrestdale by the Dumsday family for Christmas Parties, Sunday School and community concerts. It featured in the first Forrestdale Christmas Fête, held on the shores of Lake Jandakot (today Forrestdale Lake) in 1911.
The piano also includes the original purchase receipt, strong family history and photograph in Birtwistle Local Studies Library of it being used at the first Forrestdale Christmas tree Fête
The audio file is The Maple Leaf Rag, performed by Cathie Travers (2014), written by Scott Joplin (1899)
Saxony
Germany
HIGH
The Dumsday family played an important role in establishing Forrestdale in the early 1900s. The piano was purchased when the family lived in Victoria and was brought with them when they came to Western Australia in c1900. The piano was used by successive generations of the family for for 150years.
The piano was used in Forrestdale by the Dumsday family for Christmas Party, Sunday School and community concerts. It featured in the first Forrestdale Christmas Fête, held on the shores of Lake Jandakot (today Forrestdale Lake) in 1911.
City of Armadale - History House
City of Armadale - History House
Other items from City of Armadale - History House
-
FLOOR CLAMP
-
PLATE, COMMEMORATIVE - WARRINGTON UNITED KINGDOM
-
TROPHY - KELMSCOTT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY PRESIDENTS CUP
-
FRUIT CRATE - RUNNYMEDE
-
PHOTOGRAPH - WWI SOLDIERS
-
PHOTOGRAPH - REGIMENT PHOTO WWI
-
BADGE, MILITARY - AUSTRALIAN ARMY
-
MEMORIAL PHOTO & MEDALS - GERRY W RUSSELL
-
POSTCARDS -YPRES FRANCE WORLD WAR ONE
-
POSTCARDS -YPRES FRANCE WORLD WAR ONE
-
POSTCARDS -YPRES FRANCE WORLD WAR ONE
-
CHAIR - ARMADALE KELMSCOTT ROADS BOARD
Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->
