B. Stanley upright.

[S_Atie]

Hi,

My mother's neighbour took on an upright when she bought her flat - it's currently neglected in the garage. Although the wood surface has obviously suffered greatly over the years it still seems to play okay with a surprisingly nice honky-tonk over/undertone to the sound. The piano bears no logo but is straight-strung with the following handwritten maker ID:
"C5233, B. Stanley, 26.03.69"

Would you have any idea of whether this person should think twice before just sending the piano to the local tip? As I say the finish needs alot of restorative work.
Many thanks,
Stephen Attridge[/i][/i]

[Bill Kibby]

I'm guessing that it was actually tuned to C523, and Stanley was only a tuner who worked on it in 1969. Pianos that we have come across bearing the name of "B. Stanley & Son, London" were all sold by Cuthbertsons in Scotland. It was common practice to buy in pianos from London wholesalers and put fake names on them, but it was important to Sottish customers to see "London" on there. I have no record of a real maker named Stanley in my many London lists so far. Have a look at my Piano Names page at http://www.pianogen.org

[Pianomate]

From your description it is not worth any work being done on it. You could always try to give it away to a less fortunate family, on Gumtree or similar.