Universal Player Piano

[TayFm65]

I would like some information on a player piano I have, it's worth and restoration links.

Universal Player Piano
Methven Simpson Ltd.
Piano and Music Sellers
To H.M. The King
22 Reform St. Dundee

[Bill Kibby]

We have some historical notes about Methven Simpson, but player pianos are not my forte, and the best clue to age is the address:

Circa 1909 The Dundee branch moved from 122 Nethergate to 22 Reform Street.

1911 Methven, Simpson Ltd., 22 Reform street, Dundee; 83 Princes street, Edinburgh; 29 Country place, Perth; 3 Grey Friars garden, St. Andrews, Fifeshire & 85 High street, North Berwick N.B.
1914 Methven, Simpson Ltd. 22, Reform street, Dundee 83, Princes street, Edinburgh Incorporating John Purdie, Jas. Graham & Co., Wood & Co.) 29 County place, Perth 1 Grey Friars garden, St. Andrews.
1928 Musique Adresses Universel: Methven, Simpson Ltd. Branches include 83 Princes Street, Edinburgh; 22 Reform Street, Dundee (Head Office); Easman (no details); 88 East High Street, Forfar; 83 High Street, North Berwick; 29, County Place, Perth & 3 Greyfriars Garden, St. Andrews.
1936 Methven, Simpson Ltd., 22 Reform street, Dundee; 83 Princes street, Edinburgh; 3 Grey Friars garden, St. Andrews, Fifeshire & 281 High street, Cowdenbeath, Fife.
1936 King George V died: "I would appreciate any information on a piano I have recently purchased. It has the following inscription: Methven Simpson Limited By appointment to the late King George V, 22, Reform Street, Dundee. On another part of the piano it says Methven of London Thankyou, Tierna" The reference to "The late King George V puts this piano after 1936.

Yours may refer to the same king, in which case it is before 1937.

[mccooey]

Hi,
I do not have a Universal Player Piano...

But, I do have a baby grand that is an Altmann Piano, sole agent, Methven Simpson Ltd. This piano seems to have been in the Worlds Fair of 1900, Paris, France. The soundboard is a beautiful gold color and has the raised words "Goldene Medaillor" and "Paris Premirt 1900". The cabinet is a lovely Rosewood and the music stand is beauitfully scrolled. I would love to know more about this piano....can you help?

[Bill Kibby]

You would do better to do this as a new topic under its own name, so that people can find it more easily. Methven Simpson, retailers, became Ltd. in 1902, and continued for many years. "Altmann" is thought to be one of the fictitious names they used on pianos bought in from wholesalers, so it is puzzling that they claimed to be at the exhibition. I have no record so far of Altmann or Methven being at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Bluthners claimed the "highest awards", but a Baldwin grand piano was awarded the Grand Prix.

[mccooey]

I would love to email you some pictures. Perhaps you could recognize some clues. Would that be alright?

[Bill Kibby]

Yes, of course. Try to include some of the whole piano. Or you can upload them here from your computer.

[mccooey]

Well, im still curious about the age of my piano, so(I reworded it) that is located on the front of the piano.

Altmann

83 princess street. Methven Simpson LTD. Edinburgh. Dundee. St. Andrews. North Berwick. Falkirk. Perth.

[vernon]

Bill
I saw a "piano," supplied by Methven, recently, the like of which I have never seen.
It is totally decrepit but odd.
The wrest plank is under the keys (at the front) and the action is underneath though it is of normal height.
The customer has bought a cheap starter piano from us and I have threatened them with dire consequencies if they think of demolishing the Methven without my permission.I could probably get a pic tho' they live up a glen, in between 2 mountains so may not get a signal.
Methvens were suppliers /makers of the Dulcitone were they not?
Did they deal in oddities?

[Bill Kibby]

Methven and other Scottish retailers certainly sold the Dulcitone, but it was made by Machell. Oddly, Methven, Simpson & Co. was formed after Methven's death in 1865. The Dulcitone was more of a fad than an oddity, most of their stock seems to have been quite normal.

I'd love to see what this instrument looks like, but it won't have been made by Methvens. So the wrestplank is under the keys like a 1934 mini, but it is normal height, with drop action? Intriguing. The strings must be only from the keyboard upwards? Either that, or the top half has no strings!

It ought to be in a museum, I wish we had a building!

[vernon]

Bill
It's up a mountain 100 miles away but I'll try and get some pics.
bw

[Bill Kibby]

To even understand where the strings would be great. I presume that, the wrestplank being halfway up, the strings must either go up or down from it.

[vernon]

I've just rung them--- no reply. Could be the ptarmigan have nested in their exchange. I'll keep trying.
Shouldv'e taken some pics while I was there.
A neighbour of theirs'( up the same mountain) has a queer five octave anonymous pretty piano.

Suppose they would be described as sheep's pianos up there?

[Bill Kibby]

In half a century of in-depth research, I have never found anyone who can give me a reliable definition of "Sheep's Piano"! This one had a grave itch he couldn't scratch.

[cynthia]

We have a piano which sounds similar to the Altmann piano described in this thread. We`ve attached a couple of photos. Can you give us a clue as to what year it was manufactured and who the manufacturer might have been? Under the Altmann logo it says;
Sole Agents
Methven Simpson Ltd
83 Princes Street Edinburgh
Dundee St. Andrews North Berwick Falkirk Perth

There is no plate anywhere that we can see. The only other identification is a piece of paper underneath the sheet music holder;
PP
3321

Any thoughts or direction would be greatly appreciated.

[Bill Kibby]

As I said above, Methven Simpson, retailers, became Ltd. in 1902, and continued for many years. "Altmann" is thought to be one of the fictitious names they used on pianos bought in from wholesalers, and I have no specific information to offer at the moment. I would suggest doing this as a new topic, so that Altmann can more easily be found by other people.

[Colin Nicholson]

Cynthia

Have a read of this article...... this describes a 'stencil' piano, like yours (but worded somewhat from the USA area) .... but meaning the same....

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 222AAHg7ni

Just ignore the names of the pianos mentioned (Yamaha/ Kawai etc).
Many people buy pianos thinking they are of a reputable make, or thinking that the name on the lid is the manufacturers name - then find out later the name has purely been made up & just stuck on the lid..... ahem!

The piano looks pre 1900 by the octagonal legs, so no specific date can be given. I would estimate it may be a German export, but just like they do on Antiques Roadshow style (UK) - even a wooden box is scrutinised in detail, all the drawers pulled out revealing hidden objects/ dates/ symbols etc.... so you need to book an appointment with a piano technician (who has interest in the history of pianos - not just a piano tuner) - and they may be able to find more clues deep inside, amongst the 12,000 parts or so.

Hope that helps....