British Pianoforte Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

[cmulcahy]

I recently found a piano. The only thing I can find on it is the name stamped in the cast iron. It says, British Pianoforte Manuf. Company Limited London. I know nothing about pianos and just was wondering who this company is? I have searched for them online and the name comes up but there isn't much about them. Also I was just curious as to when it was made. I can't find a serial number or anything. On the action there are some dates of tuning starting in 1904 written in pencil. I am not wanting to sell it but just wondering some information for my own knowledge. I don't like having things in my house I know nothing about..... Guess I should kick the old lady out. Any help would be great. Thank you

[Bill Kibby]

Most of my research is pre-1900, and that is just about when the British Pianoforte Manufacturing Co. Ltd. were getting started, so I have nothing much ready on computer, but I will see what I can find on card and paper files.

In 2000, Rogers & Hopkinson pianos were manufactured and distributed by Welmar's subsidiary, which by then had begun using the old name of The British Piano Manufacturing Company Ltd.

Have a look at...
http://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-forum ... f=2&t=8859

[Barrie Heaton]

On 14 July 2000 there was an official press release on the merger between Whelpdale Maxwell & Cod Ltd., London, and Woodchester Pianos, Stroud. The new company will be known as "The British Piano Manufacturing Company Ltd.," and will incorporate the Welmar Piano Co., the Bentley Piano Co., Alfred Knight Ltd., The Woodchester Piano Co., Sir Herbert Marshall and Sons Ltd., and the Stroud Piano Co. Whelpdale, which makes Broadwood, Bentley, Knight, and Welmar pianos, will be moving production from the London factory to the Woodchester factory in Stroud, Gloucester.

On Monday, 7th April 2003, the British Piano Manufacturing Co. Ltd. went into liquidation.

Intermusic, of Poole Dorset, England bought the stock of the failing British Piano Manufacturing Co. Ltd. They have also acquired the piano names of Bentley, Welmar, and Woodchester.

Broadwoods are now made at Finchcooks, England

Barrie

[cmulcahy]

Here are some pictures of the piano. Its in bad shape, I pulled it apart to start cleaning it and start to restore it.

[Colin Nicholson]

Bit of tidying up to do then.... ?
Good luck with those Spring & Loop mechanisms

[cmulcahy]

We don't play. My wife is a interior designer and thinks its neat looking for our familyroom. The joys of being a carpenter with a wife that comes up with these ideas. I like history so atleast trying to figure out when this was made and where it came from gives me some intrest in this.

[Colin Nicholson]

Possibly made in London, and dated very early 1900's I would say..... approx 1890 - 1910.
Although there were many workshops throughout Uk including Manchester, Liverpool etc - but no one can say without a manufacture's name - however the mechanism, straight strung & 3/4 cast iron frame suggests that period.

The horizontal piece of wood with the cloth on it (near the strings) was an early form of a soft pedal - this would have been worked by the left pedal, and when depressed, the rail moves upwards so the hammers strike the strings sandwiched by the celeste rail felt.... this is commonly used as the middle pedal on modern upright pianos.

[Bill Kibby]

Around 1900, the British Piano Manufacturing Co. Ltd. was in Kentish Town Road, London N.W. As you can read on my website, in 1914, their Managers were Messrs Windover, which is odd, because Windover is assumed to be a maker's name.

Are there any numbers anywhere, perhaps 5 digits?

Have a look at the rear of the action for an action maker's name and number. I may be able to date this. It appears to be a German import, so before the 1914 war, possibly 1907-ish? Have you seen...
http://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-forum ... f=2&t=8859

[cmulcahy]

Bill, I found a stamp on the top of the action that says. Brooks limited No. Either I or1 then 033. I have attached a photo. Also I found a stamped in the cast iron some more numbers, I also attached that picture.

[Bill Kibby]

We know who made this piano, and where, but not precisely when it was made. Unfortunately, although the numbers meant something at the time, I have found no pattern with Brooks' numbers, so it is frustrating that we have no definite clues on this one. Brooks & Co. became Ltd. around 1889, and a similar mark around that time was No.2359. They became Herrburger Brooks in 1920, so my best estimate is "circa 1904". The frame mark A249 is not one of the many I have on file. By 1907, their nameplate looked like this...

1907BrooksLabel029.jpg (31.93 KiB) Viewed 18768 times

[cmulcahy]

Mark, as I have said my wife and I do not play at all. She wants it a decoration. Our house is on a nice piece of land and is done rustic style. I guess she thinks this will be a pretty piece with some work. I was just interested in some history as to where it came from and when it was made. Trust me I wouldn't have picked it up if I wanted something I was worried about performance from. Bill and Collin have been a great help with finding this information out. I know more about pianos now than I ever thought I would. I do thank you guys for the help. Atleast now I have some information when someone as about it. I'll post some pictures when I get it all done.

[Colin Nicholson]

Might be stating the obvious here, but there may be a stencilled name on the fallboard? - the lid that covers the keys; do you have this in your workshop?
Also sometimes the long narrow strip of wood (keyslip rail) sometimes has a wholesaler's name on. In some cases though, trade names are not listed.

Did you manage to get the piano complete? might be something on the fallboard.

[cmulcahy]

The cover for the keys is the last picture I posted. The sticker was the only thing on there. I think I got everything but the board that covers the action. I don't know the names for all the pieces. My wife wants to leave that board off anyways so it works out. But all the markings I can find have been pictured above. I started stripping it down to bare wood today and looked over every piece to make sure I hadn't missed anything.

[Colin Nicholson]

Ah.... I see!
That decal is normally placed on the inside of the top lid - with it being so close up, I couldnt tell where it belonged.
The decal shown is usually just a standard display to tell you its a British piano - when the top lid is opened - this is normally where its placed.

The fallboard then normally has the name of the piano, eg Spencer, Boyd London, Crane & Sons, Waddington ...... etc.... either as a stencil or inlaid into the wood.... and normally a bit smaller than the decal - depending on the piano name.

Many years ago, the piano could have been re-polished, so the original name would be lost - and maybe this decal added in its place. Not seen the standard decal placed on a fallboard before!

[Bill Kibby]

I look forward to seeing the finished job, although it looks like a major undertaking, I will be interested if it gives me an idea what it looked like when it was new.

We are having what I hope is a friendly discussion about the history of a piano, because this is a PIANO HISTORY forum, there is no need for anyone to be rude or abusive, nobody said it was a valuable antique, we are discussing history because we are INTERESTED. Anyone who isn't interested is not under any obligation to look at the forum, let alone offer rude, offensive or derogatory comments. These, and blind valuations will be removed.