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When I worked for Berry Pianos in the sixties, their pianos were made by Barratt & Robinson. Kastner-Wehlau were possibly the first British to use plastic bushings in the moving parts. My bosses referred to having met "Mr Wheeler" (Wehlau). Bill, who actually manufactured those little...

The piano wasn't upside-down when I left it.

Today I tuned John H. Crowley upright #3419. Good piano: massive iron frame, proper metal action standards, big angle for the bass resulting in longer strings. Besides the very British practise of hiding the lost-motion adjustment under a piece of stupid felt, all excellent design and nice tone thro...

I just tuned a Hansons (#6295, a bit older than the one mentioned above) and the metal frame said "Hansons: Coventry, Leamington, Nuneaton, Etc." Doubt if Leamington ever had a piano factory, so presumably it was made in Etc.

I just tuned T.G. Payne upright #23316 in Coventry: 1) very beautiful art deco case (I know, usually one so beautiful turns out to have old rubbish inside) and perfect ivories; 2) all the design features of a modern Yamaha upright including massive frame (plate), cross stringing, proper dampers, met...

I tuned Henry D. Scrine, London birdcage #16138 (1880ish) yesterday, up over two semitones to modern pitch. Poor thing may or may not have survived, as the treble was sinking dramatically. It has oblong tuning pings and fairly functional overdampers. The fallboard decal says 48, Dawes Road, London, ...