Another Spencer!

stevepiercy · Post by **stevepiercy** » 24 Jul 2006, 11:54

Hi there,

I recently was given a beautiful upright piano for free, and have now become curious about it's history. I'm not interested in value, as it was a gift, and when we will get rid of it, we'll do the same, but i'm sure such a lovely instrument has a history to tell.

It's an upright, straight-strung, over-damped piano in Walnut, with a beautiful light wood marquetry on the front panel. There are screw holes where candelabras used to be, but it doesn't look untidy.

I think I have found the serial number, under the semi-circle "John Spencer & Coy" stamp.

These are stamped into the wood on the left side of the piano, on the inside, visible when the lid is lifted. There is a 4 with a superscript "C" on one line, then directly below is a longer number - 23285.

The longer number is also stamped into a lighter wood post on the inside frame of the piano (below the right-hand side of the keyboard). I can't find any other identifying marks, other than what appears to be the number of the supplier - John G Murdoch of Edinburgh.

I found a serial number checker, but it says "after 1985", which given that Spencer stopped making them in 1942, seems unlikely!!

Would anyone have any idea of the rough age of this piano and/or any little tidbits of information about the company?

Many thanks in advance.

Steve

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 24 Jul 2006, 13:00

John Spencer was established 1883, and it was Murdoch who took over the factory around the turn of the century. The number suggests that yours was made in 1894. No-one anywhere can trace the life history of the piano, no archives survive.

stevepiercy · Post by **stevepiercy** » 24 Jul 2006, 13:10

Bill,

Many thanks for responding so quickly to my message - your message was very useful. I can now just imagine all the hands which have played on it over the years!

Thank you.

Steve