Nathaniel Berry

[java2000]

Hi, could anyone advise where I can get some history on a 5-octave ship's piano manufactured by Nathaniel Berry in the 1950's, serial number 40028. I would like to know what ship it was assigned to.

Regards
Chris

[Bill Kibby]

I started in the piano trade in 1963, and over the years, quite a few people have mentioned "Ship's Piano" but nobody has ever been able to define what they meant, and I feel confident in saying there is no such thing. I have also tuned many pianos on ships, and ships can have any kind of piano they want. I worked for Berry in the sixties, and the term "Ship's Piano" was never mentioned by them. The serial number you gave suggests 1938, not 1950. Their archives still exist, but it is a tragedy that nobody is available to access them. Could you email some photos to me?

[Bill Kibby]

I also cannot recall a five-octave Berry, this one has six octaves, or 73 notes. It was not made for a ship, there are hundreds of them in front rooms around London and the Home Counties.

[Tom Tuner]

They were designed as, and intended for decorator items that would not look like pianos when the keyboard was folded up. Supposedly would resemble a bookcase or some other item of furniture.

Tom Tuner

[Bill Kibby]

Perhaps you haven't seen these? They are not Yacht Pianos, the keyboard doesn't fold. They look almost like Art Nouveau pianos but slightly less interesting. This one has lost its electric sconces.

[Tom Tuner]

I was going by the so-called ship's pianos I have seen from the 1930's which do have folding keyboards. These are about the size of a console or small studio piano. A magazine adv't from about 1938 went on about one such as fitting modern room furnishing.

Tom Tuner

[Bill Kibby]

Yes, this was a blind alley, the piano has nothing to do with ships. However, I would love to see a scan of absolutely ANYTHING on paper that mentions a ship's piano.