Wurlitzer was the Grinnell Brothers’ biggest competition, but even with a competitor their business continued to expand with over 40 stores in the United States and Ontario, hence the need for 3 different factories. Currently, this location boasts a cemented parking lot. An old photograph of the factory showcases a large brick building with lettering marking it as the Grinnell Bros. The array of businesses in this small area suggests there once was a thriving community in the area. Surrounding the factory off of Jones are 2 buildings for rooming, a hotel, machine shops, a laundry store, and printing and chemical manufacturers. The factory first appears on the 1921 edition Sanborn Insurance Maps. The piano factory built in Detroit was located at 437 Jones Street between 1st Avenue and Cass Avenue (Jones is now known as Plaza Drive). The brothers eventually constructed 3 piano manufacturing plants (Holly, MI, Detroit, MI, and Windsor, ON) along with numerous warehouses and stores to meet consumer demands. Their store sold a variety of things including furniture and instruments, but their business really expanded once the brothers began to manufacture their own pianos in 1902. Ira, Herbert, and Clayton Grinnell moved their business into Detroit in 1882, which became their headquarters. The Grinnell Brothers were a well-known name throughout most of the 1900s.
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