J H Bieling & Co Gelsenkircheni.W.

Meltingmelody · Post by **Meltingmelody** » 10 Dec 2008, 02:54

Hello, I am trying to discover the history of my piano. I could not find a serial number anywhere! But it has a plate that reads J H Bieling & Co Gelsenkircheni.W. Pianoforte Fabrik gegr 1910.

I was told that the company was bombed during WWII and never re-opened. I was also told this piano spent most of its life in England. It has been restored and is a black laquer-finished upright. Anyone have any suggestions on how to find out more about this piano?

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 10 Dec 2008, 10:33

Finding a number won't help you, because no dates of Bieling's numbers are published. "gegr" is short for "gegrundet", which means that the firm was established in 1910. If you know how to remove the action safely, the working parts of the notes, it may be marked with the action makers' name and number, and we may be able to date this. For example, Bieling Piano #3,541 was made around 1922, dated by the Lexow action number.