Edward Dale pianos

[wendyken]

I just purchased a wonderful antique piano with the name Edward Dale on it. It has a serial number on it and a city by the name of Chester, (so I am figuring Chester, England). I live in the US and have done all the research I can on finding anything out about this piano. I have even written to companies that say they can find anything on every piano but even they are coming up with nothing. Has anyone heard about or know anything about my piano? It is just a little beauty but I would love to know any history about it. Thanks for any help!

[Colin Nicholson]

The name is not familiar, and perhaps unheard of.
Many pianos sometimes become a "stencil" - and their original name is removed if the piano has been re-polished, for example. The name on the fallboard does not always guarantee the name of the manufacturer, and in some instances, companies used to put their own name/ logos on a piano lid. Yellow - gold lettering stencil kits were often adhered to the lid - raised, and "on top" of the polish.

Our resident expert Bill Kibby may be able to enlighten you further when he reads this.

[Bill Kibby]

You haven't written to the Piano History Centre! Edward Dale was operating in Chester from at least the 1880s to the First World War, I will see what else I can find, but we have no evidence that he actually made pianos, he probably put his name onto pianos bought in from anonymous wholesalers. Any further clues will be inside the piano. Many of these wholesalers eventually became better-known than the dealers, names like Brasted or Kemble, all gone now. If you email photos to me, I may be able to tell more about its age.

[rein08]

I have of heard of this brand.

have you tried looking here on net?
try that.

[Bill Kibby]

Your emailed photos suggest that it was made around 1920.