William Rolfe & Sons piano

byronquam · Post by **byronquam** » 02 May 2007, 04:41

Hi, Could anyone help me with the age of a William Rolfe & Sons piano with serial number, 2646. There are no numbers in the Pierce piano atlas. It is at least an octave short. It doesn't appear like birdcage pianos I've seen. The dampers damp in the same place as a birdcage. However, a wire that is attached to an incredibly long sticker activates the dampers. A fabric attaches some of the pivoting parts to each other. It is straight strung and has two wooden pedals. Thanks for any help you could give me on running down the age of this beauty.

Byron Quam - Vancouver BC

cindy95900 · Post by **cindy95900** » 02 May 2007, 07:51

Hi,

I,m very glad heard from that you also have a William rolfe and son piano.

I have a William rolfe piano. but it,s not william rolfe and son piano.

the brand piano company was eatablished C1797 I thought. since 1806 years the company was taken over by his son. the piano was name after
William & rolfe.

hope help you.
thanks!
cindy

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 02 May 2007, 10:04

The action you are describing is the "English Sticker Action" found on most Victorian London uprights. It's bound to have a short keyboard, they all were then. Can you give me the complete, exact wording on the piano? The term "sticker" actually applies to the devices on the back ends of the keys. In 1807, William Rolfe was listed on his own, as a music seller and publisher and pianoforte maker, at 112, Cheapside. By 1808, it was Rolfe & Sons. Dating pianos by numbers is not all that it is cracked up to be, we have some estimates of Rolfe numbers, and yours would suggest around 1785, which is wrong. Are there any other numbers? See also the Numbers link at pianogen.org