Prestigious London-based piano makes

wolfrace · Post by **wolfrace** » 19 Oct 2008, 12:36

I'm planning on buying a piano stool for my family for Christmas (bearing in mind I'm only 17

) but I don't want to buy any old make. So, does anyone know the most well-known, quality piano makers in London, where I could buy one? ATM price doesn't matter.

Any help is appreciated, as I really have no idea on this one, and Google isn't helping.

Thanks!

P.S I just realised there's a page for piano makes, but there are so many so if someone could pinpoint one...

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 19 Oct 2008, 13:11

Tozer is one of the better makes also John Austin Furniture

Barrie
,

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 19 Oct 2008, 14:22

If your piano is an old one, you could also consider an antique one from an antiques centre/shop or eBay.

pianotechman · Post by **pianotechman** » 19 Oct 2008, 18:14

There are a number of new piano stools on the market, Tozer are great, almost 'bespoke'to what you want in terms of finish and covering material. You kind of get what you pay for in this market. Cheap stools are often not jointed at the top of the legs, using a metal bracket, with a standard nut or wing nut to tighten them. In my experience these usually work loose after some time and the stool becomes unstable. As a rule of thumb, if you buy a well made jointed stool with bracing bars on the lower leg, it will last a lifetime.

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 19 Oct 2008, 19:00

Deleted. Double post.

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 19 Oct 2008, 19:01

pianotechman wrote:There are a number of new piano stools on the market, Tozer are great, almost 'bespoke'to what you want in terms of finish and covering material.

I like Tozer too, although I think the quality has dropped marginally since the range was reduced and production transferred from England to Germany. I prefer John Austin for domestic stools because the wood finishes are gorgeous, (and they're still made in Banbury I think) but would go for a Tozer concert stool.

genaa · Post by **genaa** » 20 Oct 2008, 10:40

I have just ordered a John Austin Small Concert Stool so will post some pics if you like once it has arrived...... not cheap but they are still made in Banbury I believe.

genaa · Post by **genaa** » 20 Oct 2008, 10:40

delete double post.

wolfrace · Post by **wolfrace** » 20 Oct 2008, 19:11

wow thanks for the replies, they're really useful.

@ genaa, yeah that would be cool, and could you also tell me how long delivery takes?

oh and is it ok to get a concert stool for home?

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 20 Oct 2008, 20:07

wolfrace wrote: oh and is it ok to get a concert stool for home?

Fine. It's just a style of stool, leather deep-buttoned upholstery is the norm and they're expensive, but should last for ever.

genaa · Post by **genaa** » 21 Oct 2008, 14:20

hiya,

delivery estimate on the letter says 'upto 9 weeks' but they assured me on the phone it won't take that long. There is some delay as they need to get the upholstery done at a separate place apparently.

As pianoguy says they are not cheap - but will last a lifetime, in fact I think that John Austin are one of the only stools where it is possible to remove the height adjusting knobs without having to first smash them off their fitting to thread...so they really should last a lifetime and be eminently repairable should anything go amiss.

wolfrace · Post by **wolfrace** » 22 Oct 2008, 21:31

wooow sounds perfect.

I have an upright piano, so what size would you recommend for a concert stool? Small or large?

Also, for those stools, what price am I looking at?

genaa · Post by **genaa** » 22 Oct 2008, 22:31

sizes for the large john austin are as follows:

L 59cm W 46cm H 48-58cm

The large are available with tapered or spade-toe or turned legs, with spade-toe and tapered being cross-braced.

The small stools are the same but are only 41cm wide and only available in tapered leg (with cross-bracing).

Both sizes are with natural leather hide seat, upholstered with fibre, hair and felt - i.e. traditional upholstery.

Now brace yourself........

Prices for small concert stool is £507.00 for a black finish , natural wood in either Teak, Cherry, Oak, Beech or Ash is an extra 20% on base price, plus £20.00 if you want Bright finish so my black bright (to match the piano coming) was £527.00.

You pay a 20% deposit upfront on order and the balance on delivery (which does help take the sting out of it a little!)

Prices are comparable, possibly a little higher, than Tozer, but the stools are by all accounts extremely high quality if not the highest....

wolfrace · Post by **wolfrace** » 23 Oct 2008, 18:30

That's a lot more expensive than I expected

Well, I'll see what happens.

Thanks everyone for the great replies, this forum has been very useful! Hope to be on here again some time.

-wolfrace

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 23 Oct 2008, 20:03

That price is for the top of the range mutha though. The small concert stool is just as well made and will be cheaper!

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 23 Oct 2008, 20:11

i guess lots of people dont realise that piano stools are very expensive bits of kit.

lucky steinway don't make them - they'd be indestructible but they'd probably start at £3000 lol

genaa · Post by **genaa** » 24 Oct 2008, 07:14

that price is for the small concert stool. the large concert stool is £550.00 before additions for finish etc

If you want a really large selection of stools to peruse have a look HERE as a starting point

genaa · Post by **genaa** » 16 Nov 2008, 13:42

as promised - some pics of the John Austin stool I ordered. The build quality seems extremely good - it's a very solid piece of furniture and should hopefully last a lifetime

please excuse poor quality of pics - seems my camera lens needs cleaning hehe!