Cramer portable piano

[Bill Kibby]

Please don't post large photos here, if you have logged in you can see my contact details below.

Although the term "Ship's Piano" is used quite commonly, the people who use it have never been able to provide me with a definition of the term, and I have never found one in the last forty years! A Yacht Piano could be any piano small enough to fit inside a yacht, a folding keyboard is a common feature, but does not necessarily define the instrument as a "Yacht Piano". Cramer's Patent Portable Piano has nothing below keyboard level, it sits on a table or its own original stand, with the pedal operated by a strap. Cramer's catalogue says that Captain Scott took one of these to the Antarctic!

[Carlton Hobbs]

Hi folks
My Cramer portable in rosewood has serial no. 29929 (just below the top string pegs on the right hand side). I'd be interested in the year of manufacture. It was sold to my Grandmother as one of only two "yacht pianos" made - of which the other was in walnut. Ha!

I was interested in the idea of pedals at all: mine stands on its own table and the only means of sustaining notes is to keep your finger on them - there's certainly no provision for a strap contrivance.

Cheers
Carlton

[Bill Kibby]

The strap attaches to a metal ring set into the bottom of the piano, so it is only accessible if the stand is original and has a hole for it. The number suggests 1899. Their yacht pianos were not like this.