William Dalliba Dutton

Biography

William Dalliba Dutton, treasurer of Hardman, Peck and Company, was born at Utica, New York, in 1847, a descendant of one of the oldest American families, tracing its genealogy back to William Brewster, chaplain of the Mayflower. Educated at the Utica Academy and after travel in Europe, he joined his father in the piano business in Philadelphia; the original business had been founded by his grandfather, George Dutton, at Utica in 1821, and moved to Philadelphia by his father in 1865. In 1868 the firm became Dutton and Son when Dutton became a partner. Leopold Peck later induced him to leave Philadelphia and take charge of the retail department of Hardman, Peck and Company in New York, joining that firm in 1884. His fine presence, engaging manners and thorough knowledge of the piano trade contributed strongly to the firm's development, and he was honored with successive offices in the National Association of Piano Manufacturers, becoming its president in 1901. From Spillane (1890): Spillane's appendix of piano-trade patents records W. H. Dutton of Philadelphia as the holder of four related patents, Nos. 384,241, 384,242, 384,243, and 384,244, all covering an Upright Piano and issued on the same day, June 12, 1888. No other biographical information about Dutton appears in this text. Dutton was prominent in the retail wareroom department of Hardman, Peck & Company, contributing to promoting the firm's success. He also took out several patents for piano improvements.

Highlights

• Treasurer of Hardman, Peck and Company, joined the firm in 1884
• Elected president of the National Association of Piano Manufacturers in 1901
• Descended from William Brewster, chaplain of the Mayflower; grandson of the piano dealer George Dutton
• Prominent in promoting the firm's success in the retail wareroom department
• Took out several patents for piano improvements
• Held four simultaneous patents (Nos. 384,241-384,244) for an Upright Piano, issued June 12, 1888, Philadelphia

Sources

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. II (1913), pp. 111, 112.

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), p. 302.

Public domain.