James and his father appear in the 1861 Scottish census with the occupation of Shipsmiths, which meant that he had become a skilled metal worker.
In 1874, James Kerr married Mary McKerrow (1848-1909), when he was 32 and she was 26, and in their marriage certificate he is described as a master pianoforte maker, which indicates that he served an apprenticeship of some years as a piano-tuner.
This indicates that Kerr’s business had expanded, and probably included repairing, and possibly making, or badging, pianofortes.
[4] James S. Kerr’s first business listing is in the Post Office Directory of Glasgow (PODG) for 1872-1873, when he was a pianoforte tuner based at 14 Pollok Street.
In 1884, Kerr moved his business address to 314 Paisley Road, for which the rent of £40 is shown in the valuation roll for Glasgow of 1885-86.
After he died, in 1893, his wife was listed as the owner until the business was sold in 1909, and the shop and publishers remained at this address under the name of ‘J.