I put this together into a
coherent story for "Antique Phonograph News" in Sept.
2014. It is online here: http://www.capsnews.org/apn2014-5.htm
Donalda seems to be an in-house brand, made by one or more manufacturers, for the Hudson's Bay Company and sold out of their 'department' stores west of Ontario. A possible supplier, being local to Winnipeg, would be the Chopin Piano and Talking Machine Co. The Donalda surprisingly had a version with an electric motor. Like the European 'Melba' marque, they may be named after a notable, local (to Canada) opera singer, Pauline Donalda (b Lightstone). Ms. Donalda went to Paris and studied voice in 1902 on a grant from Donald A. Smith (Lord Strathcona) who at the time was Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. She later went under a stage name honoring her benefactor. Info from Encyclopedia of Music in Canada.
Picture courtesy wikipedia:
The email received that started this page:
My mother bought a cabinet gramophone, around 50 years ago, from a Salvation Army Store in Winnipeg, Manitoba,. It stands on legs, has storage for records on the left side and a drawer on the bottom. It is marked with the Hudson Bay Company Logo on the inside, and also a Donalda logo as well.
Lynn Houde
Pictures of Lynn's console Donalda:
A Donalda upright for sale in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2023.
Calgary Herald, October 11, 1920, p. 18.
Winnipeg Tribune, August 31, 1921, p. 10.
Winnipeg Tribune, December 10, 1921, p. 12. Hudson's Bay ad. "Exclusively a Hudson's Bay product. It is made in Winnipeg under our supervision."
KW found the following adverts:
Saskatoon Phoenix, August 11, 1922 pg. 12:
Details taken of the models below:
Calgary Daily Herald, February 3, 1923, pg. 24 has reference to a 'Puritan' model:
Calgary Daily Herald, January 5, 1923, pg. 24 has reference to a 'Moderne' model:
Calgary Daily Herald, October 16, 1922, pg. 18 has reference to a 'console' model with an electric motor:
Calgary Herald, September 10, 1923, pg. 16 pictures the 'electrically operated console':
