John Broadwood Piano

[michelle]

I have just moved house and I have inherited a Piano, Unfortunately I know nothing about Pianos, however it sounds lovely. It is a Broadwood Player Pianoforte Patented P104244 and I assume is over 100 years old, I have visited John Broadwoods web site but the number I have is not listed, how can I find out the history and value of this piano?

I look forward to hearing from someone.

javascript:emoticon(':P')
Razz

[Bill Kibby]

It's unlikely that you have a player piano pre-1904, they were mostly piano players then, and numbers beginning with P (for piano) are usually stock numbers from retailers who sold Pianos and other things. See

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/piano ... mbers.html

[michelle]

It's unlikely that you have a player piano pre-1904, they were mostly piano players then, and numbers beginning with P (for piano) are usually stock numbers from retailers who sold Pianos and other things. See

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/piano ... mbers.html

Hi Thanks for a quick reply. Inside the Piano it says from Geo II to Edward VII does this give and indication of its age?

[Bill Kibby]

Edward VII came to the throne in 1901, and died 1910, so we're probably in the period you suggest, or a little after 1910, but their 1905 catalogue doesn't mention player pianos, and this was early for built-in player actions. Isn't there another number inside? If your tuner can remove the end keys, there may be a date there.

[michelle]

Fall board:
In decorative writing it says John Broadwood & Sons London. On the back stamped into the wood it says: C&E, 104244, CN100L.

Key number 1:
Stamped on it says "104244" and "C&W".
In pencil it says "13/04/08" and "J Voders 14/4/08"

Key Number 88 (Last key):
In pencil it says possibly "D Brown 23????"

On the interior cast iron plate it says "RECD Frame John Broadwood & Sons Ltd London Estd 1728 by Appointment Makers to the British Sorvereigns from Geo II to Edward VII Grand Prix Paris 1900"
and
"Broadwood Player Piano Forte Patented P104244"

The piano also has 2 brass candle stick holders, 1 either side.

Tomorrow I am going to buy a book and learn how to play.

I have read your site and i think it is very informative.

[Bill Kibby]

Well, I still don't understand the P, but the published numbers put it right in the period I thought, at about 1907, and since the keys were obviously completed in 1908, the piano was finished within months of that, so this is an early example of a Broadwood player. I recommend talking to one of the websites that specialises in players and self-acting instruments for information on that aspect.

[michelle]

Many thanks for all of your information. You are very kind - and knowledgable.