The brand name "Dominion" presents some challenges. A Dominion Phonograph Co. (Montreal) is listed in the indexes of Le Prix Courant and The Mercantile Agency reference book and key as early as August 1908.
Le Prix Courant, Index, August 1908, p. 52: "Dominion Phonograph Co. Hugh Herbert Wilson"
The Mercantile Agency reference book and key, Index, September 1909, "Dominion Phonograph Co. (not inc) (Branch of Montreal, Que., also Ottawa Ont.)
Le Prix Courant, Index, January 1910, p. 52: "Montreal - The Dominion Phonograph Co. Wm. Norman Martin"
In December, 1916, Talking Machine World announced that the Dominion Phonograph Co., Toronto, registered for business. We believe that this business was a branch of the Dominion Phonograph Co., Montreal.
Canadian Music Trades Journal, February 1918, p. 59: "The Canadian Phonograph & Cabinet Co. and the Dominion Phonograph Co., 148 Fairmount Ave. West, Montreal, are manufacturing the Bernola in two models, which are selling very well locally. Mr. A. Bosquet, the proprietor, is well satisfied with the amount of business to date, both in machines and cabinets and the number of prospects ahead." (see the Bernola page.)
In April, 1921, another "Dominion" company, the Dominion Music Co. Ltd., announced the opening of their store on Rideau Street, Ottawa, and that same month announced their Dominion-brand phonograph, made in Ottawa.
Also in 1921, a company using the name Dominion Phonograph Co., advertised Victor records from its shop, Dominion Phonograph Shop, on Sparks Street, Ottawa. This may have been a branch of the Montreal/Toronto Dominion Phonograph Co. In February 1922, they vacated the Sparks Street location and announced that the balance of the D.D. Gordon Limited bankrupt stock of Columbia Grafonolas had to be sold by week end. We are not sure how D.D. Gordon Limited, of Ottawa, relates to the Dominion story but in January 1920 they incorporated to manufacture and deal in phonographs, pianos and all forms of musical instruments.
Another "Dominion"-named company: Talking Machine World, August 1917, p. 62: "The Dominion Phonograph & Cabinet Co., of Montreal, has registered."
Talking Machine World, December 1917, p. 42: "The Dominion Phonograph Cabinet Co., Montreal, have dissolved partnership."
------------------------------------
Talking Machine World, December 1916, p. 19: "The Dominion Phonograph Co., 93 Niagara St., Toronto, has recently registered."
The National Casket Company Factories occupied the buildings at 89-109 Niagara Street, Toronto, from 1906 to 1916. They were promoted as the largest funeral supply house in Canada. In 1916, Dominion Manufacturing Company purchased the property and continued the manufacturing of coffins for another 57 years. The newly-formed Dominion Phonograph Company, a subsidiary of the Dominion Manufacturing Company, manufactured phonographs for several years from its location at 93 Niagara Street. Their retail store was at 53 Cecil Street, near College and Spadina, where in August 1917 they advertised the sale of Majestic phonographs. (See Majestic page).
Norman Brooks sent photographs of a machine labelled Dominion Phonograph Co., Toronto, Canada.
Cdn Furniture World & Undertaker, August 1917. Supplied by Norman Brooks. Majestic phonographs were sold by Dominion Phonograph Company from their store at 53 Cecil Street, near College and Spadina. (See Majestic page).
Toronto Daily Star, October 24, 1918, p. 15. A Dominion phonograph for sale at the Thomas Claxton store, 251 Yonge St., Toronto.
TDS, February 7, 1919, p. 20. A typical classified ad during 1919 selling a phonograph from 53 Cecil Street, the Dominion Phonograph Company's retail location.
TDS, October 10, 1919, p. 17.
TDS, May 21, 1920, p. 18.
TDS, May 26, 1920, p. 18.
TDS, October 13, 1920, p. 17.
Ottawa Citizen, April 15, 1921, p. 4. Another company in Canada used the name Dominion for its phonographs. On April 15, 1921, The Dominion Music Co. Limited announced that they had opened a store at 76-78 Rideau Street, Ottawa.
Ottawa Citizen, April 29, 1921, p. 18. Two weeks later they announced their Dominion Phonograph, Made in Ottawa.
Ottawa Citizen, May 12, 1921, p. 3.
Ottawa Citizen, November 1, 1921, p. 10. Possibly a branch company of the Montreal/Toronto Dominion Phonograph Co. advertised Victor records at its shop at 151 Sparks Street, Ottawa.
Ottawa Journal, December 30, 1921, p. 3.
Ottawa Citizen, February 10, 1922, p. 13. In February, 1922, the Dominion Phonograph Shop went out of business including selling off "the balance of the D.D. Gordon Limited bankrupt stock of Columbia Grafonolas".
NOTE: Canadian Furniture World and the Undertaker, January 1920, p. 57: "The D. D. Gordon Ltd., Ottawa, have been incorporated to manufacture and deal in phonographs, pianos and all forms of musical instruments. Capital $75,000. D. D. Gordon and J. D. Cunningham, of Ottawa, are two of the incorporators."
