John Brinsmead & Sons London

[Tightropenet]

hi all, i recently got my piano from my parents house, i learned how to play on it and it is of great sentimental value.
I got it tuned and the tuner remarked on it, saying that he hadn't seen too many John Brinsmead pianos in Ireland. I was amazed to hear that it was nearly 100 years old according to him. If anyone can give me a more accurate timeline, it has John Brimsmead & Sons, london on the front, I found a serial number on the frame 59907.

There is also a note of the original seller (i think)Robert Stather, Seven Sisters Road... my parents bought the piano second hand in the early 80's for me to learn..

any help appreciated, not worried about value as I would never sell it, but interested in when it was made...

[Colin Nicholson]

If my list of serial numbers are correct, your serial number suggests around 1907.
No one keeps records in a book of personal previous ownership for pianos - this is just unique to that piano, and its good you have the original seller's name - assuming it is dated correctly.

[Johnkie]

According to Brinsmead serial numbers, it was made in 1907 - Glad you like it so much .... enjoy

[Colin Nicholson]

......just beat you to it Johnkie!!!

[Tightropenet]

If my list of serial numbers are correct, your serial number suggests around 1907.
No one keeps records in a book of personal previous ownership for pianos - this is just unique to that piano, and its good you have the original seller's name - assuming it is dated correctly.

The irony being that while being irish, my parents lived in london from 1958 to 1973 when they returned back to Ireland.
their address for most of that time was Seven Sisters Road in Islington, where this piano was sold.... funny that.

[Tightropenet]

If my list of serial numbers are correct, your serial number suggests around 1907.
No one keeps records in a book of personal previous ownership for pianos - this is just unique to that piano, and its good you have the original seller's name - assuming it is dated correctly.

I did a bit of googling on robert stather and came up with this

Robert Stather of London was registered as a reed organ maker in 243 Caledonian Road, London (1878) 202 Liverpool Road (1882) and 187 Seven Sisters' Road, Finsbury Park (in 1886). He established his business in 1870, and was listed in 1914 as an organ repairman and piano maker, in 1921 as a reed organ maker and repairer at 181 Seven Sisters Road, and in 1932 at age 90 as a piano dealer.

The following picture shows a small reed organ by Stather. According to Ian Thompson this would be the same specification as the Oetzmann reed organ, see above.

so that would key in with the date of the piano as he was in situ in that location from 1886 to at least 1921. Lovely to have that information and thank you all for your help, I've had great fun reading though some of the posts on this forum

[Tightropenet]

hi all, i recently got my piano from my parents house, i learned how to play on it and it is of great sentimental value.

How lovely.

thank you, yes some wonderful memories (and some not so nice ones practising in summer time ) and my siblings all suggested that i take the piano after my parents passed away, lovely touch from them, I look forward to telling them the history (I may take liberties and tell them its worth thousands )