Mystery piano

[gary3306]

Hi Everybody.

I wonder if anybody could shed any light on a piano I have. This belonged to my late Mother and I need to sell the piano now. Trouble is, I cannot find any information on the make. Its as if the make has never existed.

It is an upright piano and clearly quite old. It is overstrung and the internals (sorry I don't know the mechanical parts names) are steel as opposed to wood, so I would say better quality. The ONLY markings that I can find on the piano are the (what I summise is) the manufacturers name, which is 'KENBA'. This is in gold lettering underneath the music rest. The only other marking I can find is a number inside and that is 105428, which may be a serial number perhaps. I have pictures if this will help to identify it and a potential worth.

Thanks for any help

Gary

[Colin Nicholson]

Gary

There are thousands of pianos out there with names that don't exist.... by the sounds of it, yours will be one of them. Many pianos were shipped over from abroad in the early 1900's as "blank" pianos, and left for the trader's name to think of a name to add to it.... these are known as "stencil" pianos. Or, in some circumstances, the original "trader's name" name may have been removed during repolishing, and another name plucked from thin air.

I used to know a piano dealer fetch in new pianos from abroad - with no name on, and they would put the shop owner's middle name on the piano! this is quite common - a poor practice, but it happens and the pianos can be sold for next to nothing.

Even if the name did exist, and information was available, this wouldn't necessary increase its value. If its an old piano, straight-strung & over-damped (and if having the spring & loop mechanism).... they are mostly ready for the scrap yard, and worth very little. However, please send some pictures if the piano is particularly attractive to look at? Also try and remove the front music board, and take a photo of the mechanism from the front (not from the top lid looking down).... and one photo per post. Pianos cant be valued here due to their unknown condition internally.... but we'll give you some info when you send some photos.

Hope that helps

Colin