Round top piano

[Merv Williams]

I have a Van Gruisen & Son labelled round top piano which is no longer used.The serial number stamped inside is V28353.It requires some cleaning work doing and a retune but am unsure if round tops are a saleable item.Any thoughts out there?

[Bill Kibby]

I am assuming that "round top" is your own description? I have no idea what you mean unless it is an upright NAAFI piano with the top curved away to stop people putting beer on it! Or do you mean it is a grand, which therefore has a rounded end to the top?

[Merv Williams]

Thanks for the reply Bill.Yes it is a Black painted/stained overstrung upright with a curved top.So these were built for NAAFI/clubs to deter customers from placing their drinks on the piano lid.That would also explain the one glass mark/stain exactly in the centre of the lid at the highest point.OK, so it certainly doesn't appear to be a rare piece and it needs some work doing to it.In that case I think ebay for "next to nothing" sounds like the next move.

[Bill Kibby]

They are not rare, but not common either, but unusual. As to whether it is worth anything, that depends entirely on whether your tuner thinks it can be made to perform its function properly. Any chance you could email me a photo or two?

[vernon]

Danemanns had a line in curved top pianos.

[Bill Kibby]

I'm guessing that this is a bit early than those, otherwise it would be Van Gruisen Ltd.

[vernon]

what's the van Gruisen mean? Never heard that one.
How is it you have so much arcane knowledge?
I've been immersed in pianos all my life yet I learn something new on this forum everyday.
There are people extolling the virtues of modern pianos that I have never heard of.

[Bill Kibby]

Perhaps it's the fact that I have been collecting and meticulously (some would say obcessively) filing information for 45 years? My collection includes hudreds of directory lists of piano firms. Van Gruisen was a big name in Liverpool a century ago, originally partnered with Rushworth.