Advice on age and price of a Berry upright piano

[LongLam]

hi,

i recently moved into a house and found a piano that the previous owners have left behind (along with some other old items).

was wondering what kind of piano it is and if it was worth keeping or selling. price would assume it is out of tune...

the unusual thing about this piano is that is has two light bulb fittings on either side of the keyboard, which sit on plinths (raised higher than the keyboard itself). not sure about the wood either, but its lighter than mahogany.

i would send a picture, but dont have a webspace to host it...

its an upright Berry, reg no.:

70419 8 (there is a space with a big flat head screw between the 9 and the

there is also a little red sticker on the inside that reads:

"This piano has been fitted with Berrys new improved girder bars"

the strings are wrapped in what looks like blue cotton thread.

any help would be appreciated.

regards,
Long.

[LongLam]

oops, that should have been:

"70419 8 (there is a space with a big flat head screw between the 9 and the 8...)"

i forgot the smileys were turned on.

[PianoGuy]

Berry's made some funny old things! It sounds like you have one of their 1930s curiosities- It's definitely 1930s if the hinges and pedals are chrome rather than brass. Some of their pianos had little bakelite ash-trays which could be swung out from under the keyboard and their casework designs were often a bit different from the norm. That doesn't sound like a Berry Serial number to me though, but Bill on the "History" forum's the person to ask.

I've never worked out what the 'Patented Improved Girder-bars'were, but someone once told me that the belly bars on the soundboard were girder-shaped in cross-section. I must admit I've never had a look at one to find out.

Nathaniel Berry's London factory was in Crouch End, and existed until the early nineties, but I don't think they were making pianos much after the 1950s or early '60s. They were bought by Phelps Pianos Ltd from South London I believe.

[Deborah]

I have a Berry upright piano serial number 32804, any idea how old it is and does anyone want it , free to a good home , I am in nottingham