Joseph Riley & Sons Walsall

[kimbrett]

I have just aquired an old piano made by the above and named the Walter Wilson can anyone tell me anything about it. It is in very poor condition - the keys stick and some don't work but I would like to try and get it working again.

[Bill Kibby]

The only Joseph Riley that comes to mind was in Birmingham, no referece to Walsall, but I'll see what I can find. Does it actually say "The Walter Wilson"?

[kimbrett]

Hi there, thanks for looking, the exact wording is set out as :
Walsall
Walter Wilson
From Joseph Riley & Son
Hope this helps, I am really curious, I have re-homed it after a friend threatened to smash it up, it was in their house when they bought the property, they have never used it.

[Bill Kibby]

The word "from" suggests that Walter Wilson learned his trade with Riley, who was in Birmingham, but then went into business in his own name, and made this piano. Have a look at my Datemarks page at www.pianogen.org