Roll Back the Years, by Edward Moogk, National Library of Canada, 1975 states on
page 63: "Also in Toronto [during 1916], the Cecilian
Concertphone made its debut, with distribution handled
by the Musical Instruments Ltd. at 247 Yonge Street..."
Canadian Music Trades Journal, July 1917, p. 39. "Gervais and Hutchins having secured the wholesale rights for the Province of Quebec for the Cecilian phonographs and a line of records, this firm are now making extensive alterations in their premises to accommodate a large stock of both machines and records."
Canadian Music Trades Journal, September 1917, p. 63. "The Cecilian Concertphone, which has been on the market long enough to have cemented the loyalty of a number of live dealers, was shown on the Cecilian stand (at the Canadian National Exhibition), and was carefully examined by many dealers. The Louis Quanz, in gold trim and handsomely finished cabinet, was a favourite, while the automatic stop with which the Concertphone is equipped appealed very strongly to inquirers, who could not make it miss. The ball bearing tone arm is adapted to any style of record, including the European Pathe, which plays from the centre to the outer edge."
Talking Machine World, November 1917, p. 39. "J. A. Moore, of Musical Instruments, Ltd., manufacturers of the Cecilian Concertphone, has returned from a visit to such industrial centers as Boston, Worcester and other Eastern States points. Among the supply houses visited by Mr. Moore, Canada was enthusiastically heralded as the country with the greatest future. Because of the conviction that Canada is destined for great possibilities commercially, a number of firms called upon by Mr. Moore propose establishing branch factories in Canada."
Talking Machine World, August 15, 1918, p. 53: "The Cecilian Co., Ltd., Toronto, of which John
E. Hoare is the head, are now located in their
new factory at 89-91 Niagara street. In addition
to the manufacture of Cecilian and Farrand
pianos and players the Cecilian Concertphone
will also be manufactured in this factory for Musical Instruments, Ltd."
Beginning in 1920, ads by Cecilian Co. began to appear for the new Artis-tone phonograph which was likely also manufactured by that company.
Betty Minaker-Pratt contributes: "Wayne Kelly's book, Downright Upright
p. 120 says that Stanley took over the Cecilian Piano
Co. in 1922, but then went out of business two years
later when Mason & Risch bought out their stock.
KW adds that the same book on page 102 states:
"Cecilian Piano Company--Toronto, 1904-22. An
apparent manufacturer of player pianos only, this
company had its product sold and distributed by
Heinztman from 1906. The company was bought out
by Stanley Pianos in 1922."
Moogk, page 91, agrees that : "The general economic
situation [of 1921-22?] was still affecting the value
of the dollar, and at least one piano and talking
machine firm, the Cecilian Company, was taken over by
Frank Stanley, a veteran of the player-piano
business."
Betty Minaker-Pratt contributes the following:
"Cecilian Piano Co. Toronto, 1904-22. There is an
advertising cover stamped 1917 for the Cecilian Co.,
Salesrooms 247 Yonge St./Factory 1189 Bathurst (just
north of Dupont)."
The following ephemera are from the collection of Bill and Betty Pratt:
Canadian Music Trades Journal, October 1915, p. 60.
Montreal Gazette, November 24, 1916, p. 5
Toronto Daily Star, December 15, 1916, p. 28 December 22, 1916, p. 17. Two very early Cecilian advertisements - "Made in Canada".
Toronto Daily Star, December 19, 1916, p. 4, and an ad in a band concert programme at Massey Hall (Toronto), November 30, 1916.
Canadian Music Trades Journal, April, 1917, p. 69. The Cecilian Company's salesrooms in Toronto.
Brantford Daily Expositor, June 1, 1917, p. 13.
Canadian Music Trades Journal, July 1917, p. 58. 1st display ad in CMTJ for the newly-introduced Concertphone.
Canadian Music Trades Journal, July 1918, p. 57. The Cecilian Co. moves into a new factory at 89-91 Niagara Street, formerly occupied by W. Bohne & Co., manufacturer of pianoforte hammers and inventor of a "Combination" phonograph designed to play both large- and small-diameter cylinders. See Bohne.
Article from Toronto Daily Star, September 3, 1919 p. 1. The Cecilian Concertphone is on display by the Cecilian Company at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
Advert from Canadian Home Journal, December, 1919 p. 22:
Victoria Daily Times, May 14, 1920, p. 4:
The Globe, September 25, 1920, p. 7. Image digitally enhanced by Hopkin Design.
Advert from the Quebec Telegraph, Sep. 21, 1921, pg. 19:
The following photographs were take by Betty from John Peel's collection in Port Hope in August, 2007.
The following were supplied by Adam Miron in 2013:
Parts machine for sale in Toronto, Nov. 2009 (photos by Arthur Zimmerman). Betty Pratt found reference to the 'Russell Gear and Machine Co." in Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound, Volume 1 by Frank W. Hoffmann: "Of the earliest Australian-made gramophones...others were…and the Concertola—the motor of which was made by the Russell Gear and Machine Co. Ltd., of Toronto, Canada. Tommy Russell was a general manager for the iconic Canada Cycle and Motor Co. (CCM) and diversified to include Russell Motor Car Co., Russell Gear & Machine, and Canadian Acme Screw & Gear.
Steve Valeriote sent the following pictures of his tabletop Cecilian--of which he has beautifully restored the exterior.
Electric braking mechanism?
Here is Steve's machine in action! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99npGNzsvh0
A table model Cecilian for sale in Surrey, B.C. in 2023. Submitted by Lance Husoy.
Matthew Davidson writes in 2023: "There is only one place where I've seen gramophones for sale in Nova Scotia. It is at The Great Village Antiques Mart, formerly R.F. Layton, General Merchant store in Great Village, NS, about 1 hr 15 min from Halifax."
An upright model Cecilian for sale in Toronto, Ontario in 2025.
This portable was for sale In Toronto in November, 2008 (photos by KW):
