Our Company began trading in the fine city of Norwich in 1887. Arthur William Cooke 1st, designed and built the first 'Mini Pianos'. The advent of the ‘electric radio set’ helped the Company to evolve and diversify, but the piano was still the instrument everyone aspired to own. The outbreak of WW2 had a devastating effect on many companies including Cookes. The London piano factories were turned
over to the War effort, their craftsmen building wooden aircraft frames rather than Pianos. After the War, Cookes, now under the control of Mr A.W. Cooke 2nd and his son Arthur junior, used their considerable skills to recondition the older pianos, as new pianos were very difficult to find. Arthur junior was a determined entrepreneur and in an effort to revive the Company's fortunes began selling TVs in the 1950s and actively reconditioning Pianos. This meant a new apprentice was required and a young Bill Kilgour joined Cookes. Bill is now our Managing Director. The 'Swinging 60's saw the emergence of a new instrument to the U.K, 'The Hammond Organ'. Arthur Junior had the foresight to see the huge potential of this amazing instrument and became the Hammond Organ dealer for Norfolk. The 70's saw a period of considerable growth, Hammond Organs & Pianos were selling very well and Cookes began selling Miller Church Organs. It was at this time that Steven Battle joined the company. The mid 80's saw Arthur Cooke 3rd retire. Bill and Steven were determined to uphold the reputation which had been built and established over 100 years. Since then, the Cookes Keyboard School has been opened at Cookes, teaching hundreds of children and adults to play piano, keyboard and Organ, as well as introducing them to the joys of making music. We wonder what our founder, Arthur Cooke, would think of Cookes today, especially with the discovery of modern electricity! No doubt like us, he would be proud that the Cookes name remains synonymous with supplying quality musical instruments and service.
