Did you know that London’s Camden Town area used to be the centre of the domestic piano manufacturing industry?

By 1920, there were around 100 small-scale piano factories and workshops employing over 6000 people, churning out a great variety of instruments for good, clean, family entertainment. Ah – the old days… And according to the historian on Jamie Cullum’s radio-documentary series, the World’s End pub was the venue where skilled piano craftsmen hung out, waiting for foremen from this or the other piano factory to walk in and pick their additional labour for the day. Considering the location of that skilled labour pool, I wonder whether the quality of the final product could always be guaranteed!?!

Another pint, please!