The famous Montgomery Ward Department Store chain manufactured and sold pianos under the Windsor and Clayton brand names from about 1900 until about 1949. Both Clayton and Windsor pianos were sold by the thousands in larger Montgomery Ward stores and in their sales catalogs. Much of their success was accredited to Montgomery Ward’s aggressive financing plans which made their pianos available to people all over the country.

Since Montgomery Ward sold these instruments through their mail order catalogs, they were often sent to the most rural parts of the country, usually by wagon and train. They would go to both extreme hot and cold climates, dry and moist climates, and the manufacturer had to guarantee them to hold up.  Many people think since a piano was made and sold by Montgomery Ward that it must be an average quality piano. These pianos were, in fact, exceedingly well made with substantial tone quality and excellent workmanship.