Help needed - H. Bord "Paris" - John Gray & Sons

[dmoore]

We are currently clearing our house out and have found that we have a piano that a family member inherited a good few years ago.

It has "H. Bord" with "Paris" below in gold scrolled writing on a black plaque on it, then just above the keys in the centre there is a small white plaque that says "John Gray & Son - York and Hull".

Does anybody know anything about this make of piano?

We need to get rid of it and would like it to go to a good home. It's not in perfect condition - some of the ends of the keys are chipped and one of the candle holders (on an arm) is missing.

Would it be worth anything?

Any help anyone could give would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks
Deb Moore

[Bill Kibby]

I;m sorry that because the site is doing peculiar things at the moment, the little posting that was here twice has disappeared. The piano is by ANTON Bord, not H. Bord, and there are many posts on the Piano History forum about Bord. See also my comments about Victorian pianos at www.pianogen.org

[Gill the Piano]

Bord were amazingly sturdy little pianos. Sconces (candlesticks) can be got on eBay, junk shops (if you're lucky) or antique shops. Measure the size of the backplates though, or you may find the sconces foul with the fall (lid over keys). Chipped keys can be gently smoothed (not back flat, just soften the chips so they don't catch the finger - or the eye).
Get a tuner/tech in for a real opinion; we can't do it over cyberspace!

[Bill Kibby]

If you are in the UK and it's an early Bord, I may be interested in rescuing it, but I wouldn't buy it. Can you see any numbers inside the top? The name "John Gray & Sons" suggests about 1895-1935 if he sold it new.