Boyd Baby Grand

[tjpollard]

Hello - can anyone shed any light on the history of the piano maker Boyd of London? I have a baby grand by Boyd - marked 'Coronet model'. I understand it's from the 1920s, but other than that I know nothing about it's history, apart from the previous owner telling me I'm only the 3rd owner....I would appreciate any information on this manufacturer - the site doesn't seem to mention it anywhere.

Thanks.

[Gill the Piano]

Try the Piano History thread. See if you can find a serial number in it amongst the tuning pins inside, that'll help date it more precisely.

[Bill Kibby]

Boyds seem to have applied the phrase "Coronet Model" to various different models, including vertical-strung uprights, overstrung uprights amnd also grands. In music, the "Three Bs" are Bach, Beethoven & Brahms. In the piano trade generally, the "Three Bs" are Bechstein, Blüthner & Bosendorfer, except in London, where they are Barnes, Berry & Boyd, three large retailers who had many branches around London last century. Surprisingly, Bansall, Brasted, Barratt & Robinson & even Broadwood and Brinsmead didn't get a look in, although Bechstein, Broadwood & Blüthner were a popular trio of names in some old dealers' ads. I used to work for Berrys, and have tuned so many Barnes, Berry and Boyd pianos over the years that it would seem pointless to put all the details on file, but specific enquiries are welcomed. Boyd pianos were not all made by Boyd, and dating them purely by serial numbers is not reliable, no lists are published.