The Jesse French Piano Company of New Castle, Indiana was a major player in the piano industry during the 19th and 20th Centuries. Established in 1875, his pianos were first built in Nashville, Tennessee under the name of “Dorman, French & Smith”.  Jesse French organized his own firm of “The Jesse French Piano & Organ Company” in 1885.  In 1902, Jesse French went into partnership with Albert Krell of Ohio and the name of the firm was changed to “Krell-French“.  Albert Krell left Krell-French in about 1905, and the firm became “Jesse French & Sons”.  Jesse French continued to build pianos until his death in 1927.

Jesse French & Sons had the ability to produce pianos in large volume. The firm built pianos which were sold under several different brand names including Jesse French & Sons, Ackerman & Lowe, Continental Piano Company, Frenchetts Piano Company, Jefferson Piano Company, Krell-French Piano Company, Lagonda Piano Company, and Browning Piano Company. In 1955, The P. A. Stark Piano Company bought the Jesse French Piano Company, and built pianos under both the names of P. A. Stark and Jesse French & Sons until about 1965.