Heintzman & co.

violetball · Post by **violetball** » 13 Aug 2007, 06:11

Hello. I have a Heintzman & Co piano that says 'from Willis & Co limited Montreal' underneath the name in the front. The serial number is 11658 I believe. Can anyone tell me what the 'from Willis & Co Limited' means?

Oh and I forgot to mention that it is a two pedal piano and from what I've read, all original heintzmans have three pedals. The piano does bring the original insignia of heinzman & co on the inside though.

Can anyone explain this to me please?
And the date? Can anyone tell me?

Thanks so much!

pianotech · Post by **pianotech** » 16 Aug 2007, 19:46

Willis & Company was a piano company in the Montreal area. They were also a major piano retailer before they began manufacturing their own brand. The decal that says from Willis & Co. indicates that it was sold through one of Wllis & Company's retail outlets.

there is more info here at http://www.pianotech.ca/willis-pianos.htm

violetball · Post by **violetball** » 16 Aug 2007, 23:07

I see, thanks so much for that. So it is an original heinztman?

What about the two pedals? Is it possible that my piano was built before they started adding the sostuneto pedal?

pianotech · Post by **pianotech** » 17 Aug 2007, 03:29

I'm not sure where you heard that Heintzman pianos always had three pedals. I saw a Heintzman piano this morning that had two pedals. If your piano is a Heintzman it will say so on the inside of the piano. It will be in raised lettering on the Iron plate. Probably on the right hand side or possibly under the bass strings on the left.

Upright pianos from the late 1800's often had two pedals. Three pedals became the norm in the early 1900 but by the 1960's many piano makers started using a two pedal design again.

violetball · Post by **violetball** » 17 Aug 2007, 07:43

That's great! Thanks so much!

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 17 Aug 2007, 12:06

Interesting to hear about the pedals situation in Canada, although it is not true of pianos made this side of the ocean, where the majority only have 2 pedals anyway. Also, one cannot assume that the third (middle) pedal is a sostenuto, it may have one of several fuinctions.

RagtimeMax · Post by **RagtimeMax** » 03 Apr 2008, 01:04

According to the Pierce Piano Atlas, your piano is from around 1896. I may be wrong.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 03 Apr 2008, 09:31

More like Pierce may be wrong! Have a look at my Numbers page at www.PianoGen.org

UK Piano Page Piano Forum

Heintzman & co.

Heintzman & co.

From - Willis & Company

Pedals

Heintzmann