Rösener Berlin

[PercyPickwick]

Does anybody know anything about a German piano maker called F.Rösener, Berlin. Next to the name there are pictures of several medals, on two of which it says: "Für gewerbliche Leistungen. Berliner Gewerbe Ausstellung 1873". The number given inside the piano is 28829. The piano as such is an overstrung, overdamped one. I am especially interested if anything is known about how the make was regarded at the time and/or is at present since some of the 'pegs' have started to get loose so that tuning is becoming increasingly difficult/impossible and I am thus thinking about having it reconditioned. The problem is that the piano is located in the middle of Scotland with no restorer known within a radius of 100 miles and I would consequently like to know as much as possible about the piano before trying to find someone to have a look at it.

[Bill Kibby]

All I can tell you at the moment is that Rosener was established in Berlin 1839. The only piano I have on file has a Rosener name screwed onto an old Cramer, London upright. I have no reason to think this was the original name. The best bet with german uprights is that the action (the working parts of the notes) may have the action makers' name and number on the rear.

[PercyPickwick]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the information. I took the piano apart and had a look at the different parts. Unfortunately, the only information on the rear of the action was another number (115567), "2A" in print and "282 M" scribbled in pencil.
Other than that, on the back of the bottom door and the fall the number 28829 is scribbled with pencil, which is the same as the one given on the frame. Given that the name and pictures of some medals are laid into the wood and thus form an integral part of, rather than being screwed onto, the fall I suppose that the name given is actually the one of the maker, but then again I am no expert.
If there are any further information on Rösener (which given German language rules might also be written Roesener if I am not mistaken)they would be highly appreciated.
On a different note, do you happen to know any piano restorer/ technician in Fife who might be able to have a look at it?

Thanks for all your help

[Bill Kibby]

Sorry, Fife's a bit of a long trip from Lowestoft, and I don't know anyone up there. Are there any more dates visible on the medals? I was just being lazy with the typing, but it could be written as Roesener. Nothing else seems to be published.

[PercyPickwick]

Unfortunately, there are no other dates. The bits that can be read on the medals are on one:
König v. Böhmen ECT APPOST König v. Ungarn

on one of the others:
Willem III Koning der Nederlanden

and:
Internationale Koloniale

[ijsanchezc]

Hi, I have in my family for several years a F. Rösener (Berlin) piano, with 8 medals and serial number 39251.

I have to know for history information, I am interested in knowing how it came to my family in Mexico

[Bill Kibby]

There is no way to trace the life history of individual pianos, and no archives exist for Rosener.

[ijsanchezc]

Thanks for your response

Regards

Ignacio