do you know anything about claremont - murdoch + co, London

[melonpips]

Hi,

I do not know much about pianos but my mum inherited a Claremount - Murdoch & Co, London. It belonged to my great grandmother so we guess it must be at least 70 years old. My mother is thinking about selling it but does not know what price to ask for. Does anyone know what it might be worth, or know anything about Murdoch & Co as I have searched that name on the internet and it does not come up with much.

Thanks for your time

Melonpips

[PianoGuy]

Murdoch, Murdoch and Co were a huge dealership in Oxford Street London with at least one other branch in Birmingham, situated I think in Corporation Street. They produced inexpensive uprights (or had them made for them) under their own name, the better quality ones having the brass name "Murdoch" inlaid into the fall, and the cheaper ones a transfer label. They also took over the Spencer piano company who made good quality English uprights, so it is likely that your piano was made in that factory.

"The Claremont" was one of their cheaper pianos, and was available as either a straight strung overdamper or an overstrung underdamper variant. Rather oddly even the straight strung models somehow seemed to sound much better than their humble design should have allowed. Sadly not worth a fortune, but there are still thousands in daily use making a cheerful noise.

Get your local tuner to give you a value, which could be anything from diddley-squat for an old minger to a Monkey for a real Minter.