Clough & Warren Organ Company

The following is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Clough & Warren Co.

Detroit, MI 1850-1899; Adrian, MI 1899-1923. The company started as Wm. P. Blakeman in 1850; then Simmons & Blakeman; became A.A. Simmons & Co. in 1854; then Simmons & Whitney in 1859; located at 168 Woodward Ave. in 1863;

They opened sales office at 104 Jefferson Ave. in 1865; Whitney & Co. in 1860 and 1866; then Simmons, Clough & Co. with James E. Clough in 1868, located at 15-19 Miami Ave.; Simmons & Clough Organ Co. at 6th & Congress Streets in 1873; Clough & Warren Organ Co. in 1874; and Clough & Warren Co. 1892-1923.

George P. Warren became a partner in 1874, retired 1899, then his brother Joseph A. Warren became sole owner. The company went bankrupt in 1911, re-organized in 1913, but discontinued organ production in 1916.

The Warrens had previously worked for Estey. In 1879 Queen Victoria bought a Clough & Warren organ for the people of the Pitcairn Islands. The inscription said, "A present from the Queen to her loyal and loving Pitcairn Island subjects, in appreciation of their domestic virtues." It was sent on H.B.M.'s frigate Opal. In 1889 Clough & Warren received an order from Melbourne, Australia for eleven cartloads of their organs. See Granville Wood, also Detroit Melodeon Co. Estimated total production:

Below are their surviving serial numbers

1850-1865 100 organs per year 1500
1866-1872 200 organs per year 1400
1873-1883 5000 organs per year 50000
1884-1898 7000 organs per year 98000
1899 600
1900-1916 5000 organs per year 80000
1917-1923 700
TOTAL 232200

Serial numbers:
1876 - 25698 1889 - 79342 1892 - 95989 1907 - 114120
1879 - 28340 1890 - 90300 1898 - 105146 1912 - 123613
1881 - 38027 1891 - 93045 1905 – 119083

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