Harper Piano Co. Ltd.

[Kathleen]

We have in the family a Harper Piano that we would like more information on. It has an address of :
The Harper Piano Co. Ltd. Holloway Road, London N. England. With the number 3341 stamped on it. We think it should be dated, mid 1800's. Maybe 1840 to 1850. It was brought over from England, to Canada around the early 1920's. Could someone give us some background information on this? Thanks.

[Bill Kibby]

The address is certainly later than 1850, and I have no record of them by that name until the 1900s so far, but there were several firms called Harper, so I will double-check. Dates of numbers are not available, but they were in four figures in the 1920s...

[Bill Kibby]

The address London N must be after 1850, and before 1918, the name appears to be before 1911, and I have found no references in directory lists to this firm so far until the 1900s. By 1911, they were known as the Harper Electric Piano Co. Ltd., referring to electrically- powered player pianos. My estimates of the pianos I have on file are
Circa 1910 2000
Circa 1912 3700
Circa 1915 5000
Some were made by the wholesalers Brasted Brothers, but don't seem to have their serial number sequence...

[Bill Kibby]

Revised estimate dates of the pianos I have on file are...
Circa 1910 2000
Circa 1915 3700
Circa 1920 5000 has the “London N” date which suggests that the transfer was made before 1918, but the piano may be later...
1928 5266 The action was made by Malcom, and is dated by the Malcolm number on the rear of the action.

[Kathleen]

Thank you very much for the information you gave me. I will not send any photos at this time. Kathleen

[Bill Kibby]

Are you able to email photos to me? If you have logged in, there is an email button below, otherwise type pianogen in your internet address bar. Please do not post large photos to this forum.