Harmston

pointdons · Post by **pointdons** » 19 Feb 2004, 15:09

I have acquired an upright Harmston...Pontypool & Aber... Parts of the name are not legible. I am from Indiana, USA. I have had some piano tuners out to work on it, but they said they have never seen anything like it. The keys are not standard and the harp is unusual. The insides look similar to the vertical strung pictures in the history of the piano section from c. 1920. The case is in good condition and is a beautiful piece of furniture, but the sound is terrible. The local tuners informed me that it would have to be restrung and would cost around $12000.00-$15000.00 to work properly again. They informed me that it would be something a museum might be interested in because of the uniqueness of the piano. Has anyone heard anything about this maker? I do not want to invest the amount of money the estimated it would cost on a common piano that I could purchase for half the cost. Thank you.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 19 Feb 2004, 17:40

Yes, I have heard of Harmston, although there is no reason to assume that they were real makers. What is unusual about the keys? And by the "harp" do you mean the strings, or the frame on which they are mounted? It would be interesting to see pictures. This is all I have ready on computer:

HARMSTON & Co., Pontypool, Abertilley & Aberdare
1886 Not listed.
1894 Harmston & Co., Crane Street, Pontypool.
1899 Harmston & Co., 20 Crane Street, Pontypool.
1911 Harmston & Co., 52 Church Street, Abertilley, Monmouthshire & 20 Crane Street, Pontypool.
1911 Harmston & Co., Cardiff Street, Aberdare, South Wales.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 17 Mar 2005, 23:59

What sort of information are you looking for? Apart from the notes above, I can only add that some branches were known as Harmston & Fickeling in the twenties, and they were gone by 1938. Otherwise, I can help you to search for clues inside the piano, or compile a report from photos, but no original archive material is available. I don't know what is unsual about the first one above, because I have not received a reply.

pointdons · Post by **pointdons** » 14 May 2007, 04:00

pointdons from Indiana, USA. The keys I spoke about are the "tuning" keys. The harp is made of oak not iron/steel. There are some serial numbers on the harp. Any help would be of great value.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 14 May 2007, 09:28

Serial numbers are not available for these pianos, we don't even know if Harmston actually made them. I suspect that what seems "unique" in Indiana may just be the typical front-room piano in many UK homes. The wrestpins (tuning pins) may be a crude oblong shape on their outer ends, and there may be very little evidence of iron in the frame, but from what I know of Harmston pianos, I doubt that it would be museum material over here. Have a look at the general advice at pianogen.org - especially the Datemarks link. I wouldn't think it was wise to spend thousands of dollars on it.