Bord Pianino from Rushworth & Sons

[Scerino]

I was willed, and recently received my grandmother's antique piano. Growing up I was told it is a pianola. It is a fairly small upright and was made by Rushworth and Sons in Liverpool. Where might I go to find out more information and it's value?

[Bill Kibby]

Pianola is a particular brand name for one make of player piano. Very few pianolas are old enough to be antiques. Nobody can guess the value or condition of a piano without on-the-spot inspection and tuning. The player piano aspect will also add extra problems if it needs repair, but may make it appeal to certain potential buyers.

There is a huge amount of information on the internet about pianolas and other player pianos, but I doubt if any information exists about Rushworth & Sons, unless you go into Liverpool local history sources. I don't recall the name in that form at all. By 1905, Rushworth & Dreaper were partners, so that would make it a very early pianola, most then were separate piano player units.

Some information about Bord may be found at...
http://www.pianogen.org/numbers.html

[Scerino]

Thank you so much or the info. This is not a player piano, so I was given wrong info in calling it a pianola. It is just an upright by Rushworth and Sons. Any other resources are greatly appreciated!

[Bill Kibby]

I am intrigued because I have nothing on file about this form of the name. Any chance you could upload some pictures, or email them to me?

Also...

[Gill the Piano]

Would they be Rushworth who merged with Dreaper d'you think?

[Bill Kibby]

I am intrigued because I have nothing on file about this form of the name, but as I said, they were partnered with Dreaper by 1905, assuming that this is the Liverpool Rushworth. Google mentions W. Rushworth & Sons organs, one dated 1907.

[Scerino]

I tried to upload an attachment but it didnt go thru, so I will send an email instead. Thanks for your help and as I said, any advice on where to find some history and value would be great appreciated! Sherry

[Bill Kibby]

Here are a couple of your photos, reduced in scale. This is the typical style of the French Pianinos, adopted by Broadwood around the 1870s when he abandoned the English Cottage style. We have two of these. Anton Bord made lots of them in Paris, such as the similar one that Dudley Moore owned, and one of your photos shows Bord's name, almost faded away. I have my doubts that Rushworth made any pianos, I think he imported them. My estimate is 1881, but have a look at "Gen about pianos" on my website. The numbers published for Bord are not reliable, and do not align at all with my estimate for this piano, I said #11085 may be 1905 if that is the right number, but I was wrong, that would need another digit. Anyway, I think it would have 85 notes if it were that late. If you tuner feels like removing the action, it may have marks on the rear that might help me. Rushworth was at the street called Islington from at least 1851 to the twenties, so the address doesn't help.

[Bill Kibby]

Here's a picture of a very similar Bord that I owned in the eighties, my first antique, but sadly too far gone even for me, and riddled with woodworm, so it ended up as a bonfire. It's a shame I didn't have a good photo of the name transfer. Like yours, the piano was missing the sconces (candleholders) that should be where yours has handles. The date was supposed to be 1878, and the action imprint showed that it was no earlier.

I suspect that #11085 on yours is the stock number of the importer Charles Stiles, and I am hoping that there is something nearer 48,000 inside.