Wigmore Hall Piano

[rosie]

I would like to find out some information about a Wigmore Hall Piano which has a Swander action as found in Bechstien 9's.
Serial no. WHPG 2773. I know that it apparently came from Wigmore Hall Piano Galleries. Does anyone know if these galleries were owned by Bechstien as was Wigmore Hall itself? In other words if this piano was made by Bechstein who put another name on it.
If so, any ideas why they would have done this?
Or were galleries owned by another company?
Also I have been told piano could be anything from 1920's to 1950's - any ideas?
The piano is very well used and it has been said that it was probably used as a rehearsal piano at Wigmore Hall. Inside all worked on recently and in good condition - casing extremely tired though. Any idea of it's value? I've been told it like a rolls royce engine in a battered casing ....
many thanks.

[Bill Kibby]

The name was changed from Bechstein Hall when Bechsteins' London stock and premises were seized as enemy property in the 1914 war. It ceased to be Bechsteins' peoperty, and there is absolutely no reason to imagine that a Bechstein piano was made with this name. The Wigmore Hall Piano Galleries were agents for Bosendorfer and others by the twenties, and WHPG3109, a Monington & Weston piano is thought to be from about 1938, so yours should be earlier. WHPG seems to have had a connection with Monington & Weston, who gave me a drawing of a grand design entitled Wigmore Hall Piano Galleries among other paerwork, when their factory closed down.

[rosie]

Many thanks - interesting information - but leaves me craving more!
So hope you don't mind if I ask a few more questions (or rather a lot in fact!) in the hope that someone may know some of the answers - the reason being I'm considering buying this piano in the next few days and really need to know more before investing - besides which I love learning all about this history!

1. a) Do you know if after the war Bechstein reopened on Wigmore Street? I am guessing they owned the WHPG aswell as Wigmore Hall pre 1914....
b) I was talking to a piano restorer who said that the action inside this WHPG piano he has only ever seen inside a Bechstien 9 - it has 'loops' to ensure the hammers escape quickly.
c) Maybe they opened another shop separate to Wigmore Hall Piano Galleries....?
2. I have also seen a small grand piano that is made by 'Hoffman / Wigmore Hall'.
As far as I know Hoffman own Bechstein - am I right? Do you know what date they bought out Bechstein as this may give some more clues as to the origin of the piano is question ....
3. I'm a novice at all this but learning quickly ... it would be great if you could let me know a little about Bosendorfer and Monington and Weston -
a) were they highly regarded and could this WHPG piano have been made by them?
b) Do you know if they used these Swander actions?
4. I'm assuming that the WHPG was part of Wigmore Hall - am I right?
5. Do you know who owned WH after the war ?- am I right in thinking that many piano companies opened music halls to demonstrate their pianos - and this is why Bechstien did .... well known musicians would perform on their pianos ....
Would Bosendorfer have used it in this way after the war?
6. If Wigmore Hall Piano Galleries were agents for other makes of piano why would they have chosen to make their own piano? Could they have put their own name (WHPG) on it do disguise it's essential German origins post war?
7. The piano is well used and worn - the right pedal almost worn to the ground! do you think that WHPG made their own pianos for use as rehearsal/ warm up pianos in Wigmore Hall?
8.Do you know if Bosendorfer or Monington and Weston pianos used a Swander action?
9. Finally, any idea of the value of the piano I'm talking about? UK pounds...

Many thanks in advance! Rosie

[Bill Kibby]

You'll find some of the answers on Google.

1. a) To the best of my knowledge Bechstein had no involvement whatsoever with the Wigmore Hall Piano Galleries, which were not named until AFTER the hall was well-known by that new name.

b) I have no idea what kind of loops you mean.

c) Funds do not usually allow us to deal with anything this "modern" and it will be some time before we onto that period in detail.

2. I have no knowledge about Hoffman owning Bechstein, perhaps someone else will answer that.

3. Bosendorfer is one of the top names, Monington and Weston were a more average commercial piano.

b) Schwander actions were used by many famous and lesser-known firms, and although Monsieur Schwander vowed that he would never supply his actions to German firms after the 1914 war, it did happen.

4. I have no reason to believe that WHPG was anything at all to do with WH.

5. Yes, many piano companies opened music halls to demonstrate their pianos. Debenhams department store bought WH after the 1914 war, nothing to do with Bosendorfers.

6. Lots of firms put their name onto pianos they didn't make, or sold pianos they didn't make as well as ones they did.

7. Impossible to say.

8. Already answered.

9. Nobody anywhere can guess the value or condition of a piano without on-the-spot inspection...

[Barrie Heaton]

b) I was talking to a piano restorer who said that the action inside this WHPG piano he has only ever seen inside a Bechstien 9 - it has 'loops' to ensure the hammers escape quickly.

Hopkinson, Rogers and Broadwood used the costa spring on the Jacks

Barrie,

[Bill Kibby]

If you are talking about a spring and loop on the jacks, Barrie is right, a number of firms used them.