A Wing & Son Piano Owned by Johnny Cash and One Still Playing in South Dakota

By Elizabeth Fulford

Johnny Cash’s grandfather, John Schlim’s brother, Paula Wing and Lynda Wing Lowin all come together in this story about Wing pianos. John’s wife, Joyce, sent me this intriguing email:

“John's brother and his fiancée just got back from Nashville, TN. While there they went to the Johnny Cash Museum which has a Wing piano that belonged to Johnny Cash's grandpa. There is a sign that talks about the piano and how it was one of Johnny Cash’s prized possessions. I posted it on the Wing Family Facebook page where Lynda Wing Lowin from South Dakota saw the post. She has a Wing piano that looks like Johnny Cash's piano! Paula Wing saw the post and thought I should send the story to you.”

The display information about the piano indicates that Grandpa Cash, who lived in Arkansas, bought it by mail order on an installment plan and eventually it passed down to Johnny who put it in his house where he used it regularly.

Grandpa Cash bought this piano from the Wing & Son Piano Company founded in

1868 by Luman B. Wing in New York. Luman B. died in 1873 and was succeeded by his son, Frank L. Wing and then by his son R. Delano Wing in 1905. They were famous for their high-quality pianos and the unique 5-pedal design, which added a “rinky-tink” & “mandolin” type sound accessory on uprights. [See the 2021 OWL article for more information]

Wing & Son sold their pianos exclusively from their lavish color catalogs, eliminating the need for costly showrooms. The catalog called, The Book of Complete Information about Pianos, explained everything about the manufacturing the instrument. Wing & Son also offered free trials and aggressive financing, which was another reason they were so very successful. Wing & Son pianos were especially popular in rural parts of the United States, where the closest competitor’s sales room was far away.

Sadly, though, they went out of business in the 1930s.

Our cousin, Lynda Wing Lowin, has her own story about her Wing Piano:

“I didn’t want a piano. I hadn’t played in over 40 years, and even then, I was not very good at it. Occasionally a free piano would be offered on the online marketplace, but I didn’t even want a free piano - until I saw one that was labeled Wing & Sons.

“I had never heard of a Wing & Sons piano but knew it had to be part of my heritage, and I knew that I needed this piano, so I bought it from a man named Brett.

“Brett backed up in my driveway and with the help of my husband and son, unloaded it into the garage. Within a few days it was brought the rest of the way into the house. It is VERY heavy. Our walls only took a couple of dings. 

“This is the history of my piano as told to me by Brett: Originally the piano was used in a theatre in Sioux Falls, SD to accompany silent movies. From there it went to a rural church in eastern South Dakota that his grandparents attended. When the church closed, his grandmother bought the piano. After years in her home, it went to his parents’ home, then to his shop in Montana and finally to his basement. He was remodeling and grateful to have it out of there. I was elated to have it, now, in my den. I have found some simple music and enjoy playing it. Who could have guessed!

“Facts about my piano:

“It has its own unique serial number engraved into a brass plate bolted onto the piano.

There is a sticker verifying that it was tuned in 1920. It doesn’t sound too bad.

“It has 5 pedals, but not all work. They may just need to be attached, but I cannot get into the place where that may be.”

These are the pedals mentioned above which were unique to the Wing pianos.

Thanks to John Schlim, District 10 Representative; Joyce Schlim, Western District Coordinator; Paula Wing, Corresponding Secretary and cousin Lynda Wing Lowin for this story.