Cluett & Sons
LocationTroy, New York, United States
Biography1852/54: William Cluett started the business at 265 River Street, Troy, New York.1857/8: in partnership with son J. W. A. Cluett under "William Cluett & Son"
1862: son Edmund taken into the partnership, and firm name changed to "William Cluett & Sons"
1863: first listed as "William Cluett & Sons (J. W. A., Fred H. & Edmund)"
1870: book department of the trade was dropped; continued piano and organ business
1871: firm is listed as "Cluett & Sons"
1913: firm listed as "Cluett & Sons, Inc."
Cluett & Sons started out as a large retailer of pianos and related musical instruments.
At the height of the company’s success, there were 16 locations throughout upstate New York, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts. Cluett & Sons also manufactured pianos under the Cluett & Sons brand name. Some pianos bearing the Cluett & Sons brand name were actually manufactured by the Lindeman Piano Company. In addition to Steinway and Cluett pianos, they sold Everett and Cable Nelson pianos and Magnavox radios and TV’s. Cluett & Sons pianos were sold as affordable alternatives to the costlier brand names sold by the firm while offering comparable quality.
During the Great Depression era, J. W. A. Cluett discontinued the firm and went into the textile industry. J. W. A. Cluett left the business early on to found Cluett and Peabody, manufacturer of the Arrow Shirt. He was one of several sons of the founder and his brothers continued to run the business.
William Cluett (b 6 Dec 1806, Salop [Shropshire], England - d 18 Sep 1890, Troy, NY)
- wife Ann Bywater Cluett (b 1805, Salop, England - d Jan 1876, Troy, NY)
- seven children: John William Alfred, George Bywater, Mrs. Rev. J. N. Mulford (Mary Harris), Edmund, Frederick Henry, Emily Ann, and Robert
Person TypeInstitution
