|
ROBERT GRAHAM MOON (1909-1983)
Robert Graham Moon was born on February 17th
1909 to
Mr Sydney Edward Moon (1872-1961), who was himself the son
of
Mr George Winter Moon (1842-1911), a grandson of the founder of
the business,
Mr Thomas Moon (1765-1850). It was
Mr Sydney
Moon who converted the partnership into a private limited liability
company on March 31st 1926. In addition to himself and Mrs
Muriel Moon, the widow of
Mr Harold Edward Percy Moon (1868-1924),
the other directors at that time were Messrs W M Bryant, J Dean and
E J Mayne.
He became a director of Messrs Moon and Sons
in 1934, by which tine the firm had branches in Barnstaple,
Exeter, Exmouth, Truro, and for some reason, Bugle, in Cornwall.
In addition to selling musical instruments, sheet music, radios,
televisions and gramophones, the firm took bookings for musical
events in the City (telephone Plymouth 68301).
On January 1st 1963 Messrs Moon & Sons (Pianos)
Limited was taken over by Messrs J and F Stone Lighting and Radio
Limited, of 6 Broad Street Place, London. They were part of
Messrs Max Stone Limited, whose subsidiary, Messrs J and M Stone
Limited, were radio dealers at number 3
Tavistock Road and numbers 121 to 124
Tavistock Road, immediately opposite, on the corner with
Ebrington Street. There was also a branch at 38
Marlborough Street, Devonport.
In addition to the manufacture and sale of
pianos, Moon's also tuned and repaired them over a wide area of
Devon and Cornwall. Two of those who did that work were Mr
Harry Bolt and Mr Edward Bertie Brooks (1909-1985). Mr Brooks worked for the Company for 39
years until it was taken over and it is worth mentioning that he did
got get any redundancy money in those days. The works had moved
from Millbay to near
Southside Street and there they used to service
the instruments used by the Plymouth Band of Her Majesty's Royal
Marines. It is also worth noting that for most of his time with the
Company he travelled by bus and train to visit his customers, his
son, Mr Graham Brooks, recalling that he did not learn to drive
until 1960, two years before the business was taken over.
Mr Robert Graham Moon died at Valley Lodge, Ermington, Devon, on
November 1st 1983.
The premises in New George Street once
occupied by Moon and Sons (pianos) Limited is currently the MacDonald's Restaurant.
|
