J. Robertson & Son Upright

[biokim17]

First, I just wanted to say after cruising this site for the past hour or so, there is simply an amazing amount of knowledge here! I applaud the historians who have spent so much time researching and are willing to share their findings.

Here is my story. I have a J. Robertson & Son upright, legless piano. Its not very old (about 17 years if my research so far is correct). To my knowledge, I am the only owner, it was given to me as a gift about 15 years ago.

The piano itself has no front legs, which in the little bit of research I have done is uncommon for a newer piano, and if I do a search on the brand, I haven't really found any information there either. The piano tuner came today, and he said he thought it might be from England (because of the style and some of the strange things he found regarding the way it was made). When he opened the body of the piano, we found the original owners manual (see link for picture). As best we can tell, its written in Russian, and the serial number in the manual matches the serial number which is printed on the hammers. If I am reading the manual correctly, it appears to have manufactured in 1994.

So now for my question, if anyone could look at the picture of the manual, and see if they can identify the actual manufacturer (at this point I'm very convinced that J. Roberson & Son is nothing more than a sticker) that would be wonderful. Thank you so much!

Manual
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mvl1014/63 ... hotostream

Piano
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mvl1014/63 ... otostream/

[Bill Kibby]

This is too modern a piano for me, but I hope someone involved with the modern retail trade will be able to help you. One doesn't normally expect modern pianos like this to have "legs".

[Colin Nicholson]

After a quick flick over to 'google tranlater' .... the manual front cover reads
"PIANO BEPARUS" .... so, please excusing one wrong letter in my typing, its a BELARUS by origin..... (safe to say)... from the Borisov factory in Belarus, Russia.

I think the first letter 'P' (from piano) looks like an upsidedown square cup, but the 3rd letter - (I thought was a 'P') .... looks more like a beaker.... so that must be the letter 'R' .... Russian not my strongest language!!!!

The name on the front 'J. Robertson' is probably a ploy to give it an English name.... but the piano may have been exported to the UK, then renamed. The name is also in the wrong place to be the true name of the piano - and yes, this is just a name plate made up. Robertson is an old name - I've seen some dated back to the early 1900's - so not uncommon for a cheap export to be given a 'London' name. Get my drift?

Belarus changed their name to Tri-Con in the mid 1990's and from the book I have, they became USA distributors of Pearl River in 1996.... so I am guessing yours may have missed the long boat!

Usual features of these pianos show poor cast frame markings/ pock-marked, strings not so good to tune, and often cheaper materials used inside the mechanism (eg red check felt).... however they look OK.... and its a piano.


If the serial number is right, it may start with a 7XXXXX or 8XXXXX? - dating it around 1994 as you suggest.