Francis Connor started his retail piano business in 1871 in New York City.  Connor began manufacturing his own “F. Connor” brand of pianos in 1877 and quickly enjoyed much success.  Before the turn-of-the-century, piano production was moved to Philadelphia for a short time. Around the turn-of-the-century, The Connor Piano Company established its head offices in New Orleans, Louisiana where it increased its popularity by distributing pianos throughout the Southern United States.

Francis Connor retired from piano manufacturing in 1926.  After 1926, The Laffargue Piano Company assumed control of the Francis Connor brand name.  Laffargue appears to have built pianos under the Francis Connor until the early 1930s, ultimately going out of business around 1933.