[PigSquealer]

I'm trying to find any information or pictures on "Ludwig Music House". There is practically no information on the Internet. I have contacted the historian at the St. Louis Museum. After several weeks of looking through their archive the historian only found one article. Although the comment was made. "It is possible this has not been digitized yet". The good people at Saxquest are local, but are currently engaged in a museum renovation.

Ludwig music was a chain of stores from the later 1800s apparently until the mid-1970s. Musicians Lore suggests this was "the place to be".
I am primarily interested in the era between 1905 and 1925.

 

[bruce bailey]

I think they may have been based in Ohio and St.L would be a branch. AFAIK, no relation the the drum company and maybe related to Ludwig publishing. A friend was married to an heir but since he is dead now, communication may be a bit difficult !!!

 

[PigSquealer]

Best I can tell there's no connection to Ludwig instruments.
LMH was started buy German immigrant family early 1880s. I lost the reference page.
A merger took place between Aeolian music and Ludwig 1950's? This made for the largest music store chain in the region.
Then this article pops up. It says that Ludwig bought Aeolian in 1970. No mention of a merger.

Aeolian

Aeolian had a higher grade pianos. Ludwig carried more common goods.
A relationship exists between Aeolian music and Aeolian Hall in New York. The same famous Aeolian Hall Rudy Wiedoeft played at.

Aeolian Company - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Aeolian Building (42nd Street) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This is not the original building. 709 Pine St. was and is now a parking structure.

Built St. Louis | Historic Downtown

AIArchitect This Week | Former Piano Showroom and Organ Store Combine to Form New Lofts in St. Louis

Oddly no information on Ludwig.

 

[PigSquealer]

And then this falls out of the sky

Kay McDowell | NAMM.org

Kay McDowell now (and may always) holds the record for the most NAMM shows attended --83 in a row! As a very young girl, she accompanied her father, the owner of Ludwig Aeolian of St. Louis, Missouri, to the show. Years later, her husband, Bob, took over that business and a very active role in...

www.namm.org

 

[PigSquealer]

Have contacted person @ NAMM. Received a very nice response. Like everything Covid. He is not working from the office often. But will definitely look into what they have on file.
Meanwhile the three month dig continues.

 

[pianonovice]

Have contacted person @ NAMM. Received a very nice response. Like everything Covid. He is not working from the office often. But will definitely look into what they have on file.
Meanwhile the three month dig continues.

I purchased a piano from Ludwig Music House, located in Earth City, in 1998. The VP at that time was John Shump. I don't know if this helps.

 

[PigSquealer]

I purchased a piano from Ludwig Music House, located in Earth City, in 1998. The VP at that time was John Shump. I don't know if this helps.

Thank you. Every little bread crumb counts.
The Earth City store is closed best I can tell. That was the last.

 

[pianonovice]

Thank you. Every little bread crumb counts.
The Earth City store is closed best I can tell. That was the last.

Good luck.

 

[PigSquealer]

I did hear back from Dan Del Fiorentino the music historian @ NAMM. Turns out his boss at one time was the president of Ludwig Music House . The man has passed on but left a massive archive of pictures. He was also going to try and contact this gentleman‘s daughter. Never heard back from him. He was reasonably confident he had some pictures of the St. Louis store. He also referred me to Saxquest in st. Louis. Mark was busy at the time so I didn’t bother. Now that the museum is completed I’ll ask.

 

[milandro]

a few small hits

missouri-company.com - missouri company Resources and Information.

missouri-company.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, missouri-company.com has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for!

missouri-company.com

HELP: Know the brand "Ludwig Standard" ?? | Forums | Saxophone.org

Saxophone.org - created by saxophone players for saxophone players. Features an active saxophone forum, buy sell trade your sax, saxophone museum, sax teachers and more.

www.saxophone.org

 

[PigSquealer]

a few small hits

missouri-company.com - missouri company Resources and Information.

missouri-company.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, missouri-company.com has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for!

missouri-company.com

HELP: Know the brand "Ludwig Standard" ?? | Forums | Saxophone.org

Saxophone.org - created by saxophone players for saxophone players. Features an active saxophone forum, buy sell trade your sax, saxophone museum, sax teachers and more.

www.saxophone.org

Thanks! Now if I could just find some pictures of the store at 709 Pine st. Circa 1900-1920