Boyd / Eavestaff Baby Grand

[Baby_Grand]

Hi All – My first post, please be gentle!

I bought what I was told was a Boyd Baby Grand (serial 3158 I think) a few years ago, but after attempting to research it, I found nothing. I then came across this Eavestaff
http://www.besbrodepianos.co.uk/showroo ... oom805.htm

which is IDENTICAL to my ‘Boyd,’ (except mine is Walnut and has no golden name on the inside of the lid).

1. Is it possible that I actually bought an Eavestaff?
2. Where can I get a name plate for the inside of the lid (like the one pictured).
3. Anyone have any info on Eavastaff pianos generally (Grand’s, etc, not the minipianos, etc)

Thanks Guys

[Bill Kibby]

There are times when I feel that every baby grand made in the twentieth century is identical! Unless there is something distinctive (baby grands don't usually do distinctive) you cannot say it is identical, it appears to be just baby-grand-shaped. Boyds had pianos made by several factories, Eavestaff may well have made grands for them. I have lots of information on Eavestaffs, but mainly uprights and minis, and it will be a long time before I can devote unpaid time to researching anything as "modern" as this. As for the name transfer, manufacturers do not just hand them out to be used on pianos, but with a computer and some transfer paper, you can create a name in gold letters and transfer it to the wood. However, there is no shame in owning a Boyd!

[Baby_Grand]

Thanks for the reply Bill.

When I say identical, I mean the fret work on the music desk, the legs, pedals, frame details, etc, are all the same. Could they still be different?

Alas, there is no shame in owning I Boyd I know, but I would like to know which I do own to get the name correct - don't want an Eavestaff branded as a Boyd, or vice versa.

Thanks.

[Bill Kibby]

You need to understand that piano names are often meaningless. Certainly, many Boyd pianos were made by Brasted, who had by then taken over making Eavestaffs. It is often true that Boyd = Brasted = Eavestaff. Brasteds were practially unknown under their own name, Eavestaffs were famous worldwide, Boyds were one of the best-known names in London. Have a look at the Piano Names page at

www.PianoGen.org

[athomik]

2. Where can I get a name plate for the inside of the lid (like the one pictured).

You can get a Boyd decal here: http://www.pianodecals.com/store/home.p ... =0&page=20