Wale
The Wale family of New York City was very active in pianos manufacturing during the pre-Civil War era. The family members consisted of father William Wale Sr., and sons William Wale, Jr., Charles M. Wale, and Robert Wale. William Wale, Sr., is listed as a carpenter and cabinet maker as early as 1808, and is shown building square piano fortes in the 1830s. During the 1830s and 1840s, pianos (primarily of the early square grand variety) were built by father and sons under their individual names with each having their own independent workshop. Sometime around 1850 the family members left the piano building industry to become undertakers. Instruments by any of the Wale family members are exceedingly rare today.
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Early Advertisement For William Wale, Piano Maker, New York City