Micklefield

stgo2019 · Post by **stgo2019** » 20 Jul 2004, 05:18

Hello, I was just given a small upright piano and am trying to find any information I can. I've done a search on this site and also looked on the link provided by the administrator. I couldn't find anything. On the under side of the lid there is a large oval that has "Charles Wicklefield, London" written in old english. Below that is a smaller rectangular box containing "Methven, Simpson & Co., Successors to John Purdie established 1804, 831 Princes Street, Edinburgh" What appears to be the serial number is stamped inside is 62425. I would like to get this piano in playing condition but am not sure if it would be worth the effort or money. It's very dusty inside and one of the hammers is broken(laying at the bottom). It also seems to be missing the casters or a base of some sort as the pedals don't have a full range of motion. If anyone had any information about it, age, value etc. I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance,
Matt

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 20 Jul 2004, 09:30

In 1888, John Purdie was working for Methven Simpson & Co., who were at the same address as him - 83a Princes Street, Edinburgh. By 1891, Methven Simpson & Co. seem to have taken over from Purdie. Up to the Second World War, they were still at 83, not 831. I will see what I can find on Wicklefield.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 20 Jul 2004, 10:57

A search of London piano and organ firms of the 1800s has so far only revealed the following names beginning with the letters WIC: Wicking, Wicks, Wickham.

stgo2019 · Post by **stgo2019** » 20 Jul 2004, 22:24

Thanks for attempting to find something on my piano. I took pictures but I'm not sure how to post them. As far as the address, I think I read the coma as the numeral 1. So it does say 83 Princes Street.

Thanks,
Matt

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 20 Jul 2004, 22:28

You can't post the pistures to the forum, that's why I give instructions on how to email them.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 06 May 2006, 23:29

I have no doubt it is Micklefield. In 1886, Kelly's Directory listed him as Charles Macklefield, 62 Gloucester Terrace, London NW. In 1892, a Miss Micklefiedl taught music at the same address. See
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/valua ... ianos.html

jandelvecchio · Post by **jandelvecchio** » 08 Aug 2006, 22:15

I don't have any information on your piano but I read it because you make reference in it to Peter Clouston Grant. He was my great-great-great uncle. My geneaolgy records show that he lived in Edinburgh from 1844 to 1872 and that his occupation was Music Seller/Piano Dealer. If any of you piano experts know anything more about him, I would love to hear from you.

Reodd wrote:Hello
I have been trying to find out some information on a Piano I have been offered (free)
I was wondering if the Piano mentioned could be from the same maker.
The Piano you describe sound exactly like the one on offer to me.
My Instrument has CHARLES MICKLEFIELD LONDON (not Wicklefield) on the underside of the Keyboard cover.
I also have a serial Number on both the Timber side frame (end grain) 60282. The same number appears on the front of the plate that the strings are attached to.
I have a reference to Peter Clouston Grant No 9051 on the top (inside)
I hope that this MICKLEFIELD connection helps you further and I hope that if you find anything out you would post here to allow me to further identify the instrument offered to me.
Thanks and I hope you find what you are looking for.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 08 Aug 2006, 22:45

Many of our lists are specifically piano firms, that's probably why he doesn't appear, he may not have listed himself under piano headings. Was his surname Grant, or was there a hyphen?

jandelvecchio · Post by **jandelvecchio** » 08 Aug 2006, 23:46

No, there was no hyphen -

Peter Clouston Grant

According to the Census of 1881 he lived at 13 Brougham Pl., St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh.

knight4112.fsnet.co.uk@fs · Post by **knight4112.fsnet.co.uk@fs** » 24 Jan 2007, 19:45

Some details of Charles Mickfield.

Charles Evelyn Fayres Mickleld ,Piano Manufacturer ,died December 1911 aged 71 years in the West Ham area. He was born according to various censuses about 1840 at St.Pancras Middlesex. His father was a tailor.

In 186I at the age of twenty he was described as a piano tuner. Similarly so in 1871 by which time he had acquired a wife (Sarah Crowfoot) and two daughters. A third was born later.

His domestic circumstances had changed by 1891 when it appears that he is recorded at two different addresses with a wife at each .

At Willesden he is shown with wife Maud and mother-in-law Ann Knight. His occupaton Traveller. At St Pancras he is shown with legitimate wife Sarah and three daughters whose occupatons are Teacher of music, Artist/Sculptress,and Milliner/dressmaker.Charles is described as Pianoforte Maker.

Wife Sarah died in 1896 . He then made an honest woman of Maud by marrying her 24th May 1897 at the Register Office West Ham. He is then described as a Traveller on the marriage certificate. A widower aged 56. She is Maud Lloyd 37 a widow.

His wife wife Maud remains something of a mystery. Her father is recorded as Frederick Main Knight of Ramsgate a mariner and her mother as Ann Knight. I have found no trace of her birth or marriage to a Lloyd or any entry in censuses 1861,71. or 81. Her first record is in the 1891 census with Micklefield and as M.Lloyd daughter on her her fathers death certificate.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 24 Jan 2007, 23:39

Thanks for that, is this your family research?

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 24 Dec 2009, 13:55

UK Piano Page Piano Forum

Micklefield

Micklefield

Wicklefield, Purdie, Methven

Wicklefield

Wicklefield

Micklefield

Re: All Sounds Familiar

Peter Clouston Grant

Re: Peter Clouston Grant

Micklefield

Grant