Small Upright Piano

[Bill Kibby]

I take it there is no name, so serial numbers are no help. Patent numbers are not always traceable, but where in the world is it likely to have been patented? I ask because this particular number appears on Bristol miniature pianos, and also on LHH pianos. If you search this site you will find a little information on them, or you can search the net for the word patent followed by the number.

[Bill Kibby]

The LHH piano has the same patent numbers as the Bristol miniature piano, namely 104957 & 171019, patents applied for 10512 10533 & 28770. It is also strikingly similar in design. The Bristol piano appears to be British, and since some were sold in Bristol, I had leapt to the conclusion that they were made there, but since LHH mentions N.Y., I thought it might be from New York. The KK mark on this one, and the reference to Japan, led me to suspect that the firm of Kabushiki Kaisha was involved. They are now part of the electronics firm Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, and oddly, their US patent of 1979 for an electronic storage and retrieval system carries the same number as the old piano patent - 104957! This expired in 1997 because of failure to pay maintenance fees. Confused? I am!

[anonymousinquirys]

How many of these pianos were actually made? And what do you think the value would possibly be after all these years? Depending on your answer, i might have an interesting story for you... Please reply asap...

[Bill Kibby]

As you can see from the items above, we don't know anything much, and valuation of pianos is always impossible without inspection by a tuner. We have what appears to be a slightly larger version of the Bristol here, bought at auction for a few pounds, but it has no names or patent numbers on it.