F. Rubinstein & Co.

[bencauser]

F. Rubinstein & Co..?? can anyone help.. :piano bought a piano of this name but i can't find anything about it, looks to be german made..????

[Colin Nicholson]

Looks can be deceiving, and may piano names have German sounding names. This may be "stencil" piano - and sometimes parts of the piano were made in Germany (mechanism), then exported to the UK. There may be further clues inside the piano, and a photo may help. Probably dated early 1900 and the casework looks typically English. There was a "Rubenstein & Co" piano - different spelling, and says was probably made by Samuel Walker in Bradford, West Yorkshire (my neck of the woods!)
However there appears to be no history attached to this.

[bencauser]

Thank you very much for the help, I will take more pics of the inside...

[Bill Kibby]

Circa 1905 F. Rubinstein & Co. piano #2,300 was sold by Samuel Walker, 26 Merriot Street, Leeds. The tape check action is by Isermann, Hamburg, and has shaped or moulded checks. The case has columns and overhanging music desk. The underdampers were in poor condition when I saw it in 1982. The keys have a double touchrail, suggesting genuine German origin. Pedals inside, flat feet, half-blow. Overstrung. Wrestpins square, black, 3 loose.

The case of yours appears to have been slightly modernised. If you know how to remove the action safely (the working parts of the notes) it may be marked with the action makers' name and number, and we may be able to date this.

[bencauser]

Thank you very much, I will ask my piano tuner to look on the action to see if there is any number, do you know of anywhere I could find a picture of one in it's original case or an example of what it may have originaly looked like?? Thanks Ben

[Bill Kibby]

The top edges would have had mouldings which overhang those edges. The top door (top front panel) would have a pair of sconces (overhanging candle-holders). The shortness of the toe-blocks indicates that the keyboard would have been supported by what are known as trusses. These unite the vertical and horizontal surfaces.

On the fall (keyboard lid) next t the name, there are illustrations of exhibition medals. Can you tell me the complete exact wording of each?

[bencauser]

hi bill , i have sent you some pictures of the medals to your email, having problems on here.. thanks, ben.

[bencauser]

Ive not had chance to check the action yet for info but there is a number on the pin block 09740 ??

[Bill Kibby]

Numbers are no help with Rubinstein.

[bencauser]

Hi Bill I wondered if you could give me some advice? my ebony keys don't seem to have any grip and are always slippy, I wondered if they need sanding back or replacing? as I've tried cleaning but it dosen't help?

[Bill Kibby]

Usually, I would have said that being dirty makes them less slippy. Slippy is good, you don't want your fingers sticking to the keys. In what direction are you slipping? The wonderful thing about ivory is that it is always slippy. Don't use anything as rough as sandpaper, it may reveal that the keys are not solid ebony. Try a product you can get from motor shops, it's called Solvol Autosol, and is used for cleaning. It comes in a tube like toothpaste, but I don't know if toothpaste is a good idea!

[bencauser]

Thanks Bill, my fingers tend to slip downwards to the key below?

[Jessa]

I know this is an old post, I am from the US and just purchased an old piano that is almost identical to this one. Its beautiful. Having the same problems identifying it though. The only info I got was its 100 yrs old, came over from London about 20 yrs ago. It has two pedals 85 keys and the back has been painted black with paint at some point. It has the same Rubinstein name with the same non- decal, ebedded double coin symbol on each side. In all my searching I only found one other piano like it and its only a picture. It came with a stool that I dont know if its original to the piece. I am somewhat interested in value but more interested in its story or history. Just wondering if anyone came up with any more information to share, I would love to know where this beauty came from. I looked everywhere for marks and cant find any. I have the piano tuner coming next week and am hoping to be able to tell him where to look or find information. Thankyou. I am going to try and post pictures also.

[Bill Kibby]

2 pedals and 85 notes is the normal arrangement in old pianos. I would guess this one was made around the First World War, but no precise information is available. If you ask your tuner to check, the action may be marked with the action makers' name and number, and we may be able to date this. Nobody can tell you the value without inspecting it.

[Jessa]

Thankyou so much for your help and information. I tried to download pictures here but I think because our camera is newer the pictures are too large. I sent them to info@pianogen.com I hope they come through. We found some numbers inside stamped and written in pencil... and a name in old script in pencil on the far left A key. We are having fun with our mystery piece as we call it, looking for a great story behind this beautiful piano. But we are thinking that it almost appears that this was made in a small piano shop somewhere since there is no major manufacturers name on it. There was a smaller gold rectangular gold sticker on the lid on outside but it is worn off so bad it is not legible. I can always take a picture of what is left if you would like. Thanks again so much for your wisdom and advice on our search...

[Bill Kibby]

I did receive the same photos you have posted above, and have only just got the new ones. This piano will have been made in a factory, ordering iron frames from an iron foundry, and buying in actions, keys and some other parts from from specialist manufacturers. The earlier Rubinstein pianos are certainly German, as this one appears to be. Inspection on the spot may pick out details that a photo does not show.