Rich Lipp & Sohn

[Pookiewan]

Hello! I'm a new member and a first time piano owner....hurrah!

I'm hoping someone here might be able to help me. I've just bought a little Rich. Lipp & Sohn upright. It's very pretty, overstrung and has the number 25180 - both on the metal and on a little wooden 'cube' inside on the left. The wooden cube also has the number 4303.

I believe the first number is the serial number and could help me date it (it looks Victorian, with the little candle holders). But could anyone tell me what the second number, 4303, is?

It also has another name just above the keys "James Russell & Co, Oxford". Does anyone know who they might be? I've looked on the net, but have come up empty handed!

Many thanks.

[Bill Kibby]

Dating pianos by numbers is often not as simple as people think, and most pianos have several numbers inside. 25180 would suggest 1904. Without photos, I can't say if this date is likely. Russell was a dealer in Oxford from about 1890 onwards.

[Pookiewan]

Thank you Bill. Great info about Russell being a dealer. And 1904 sounds about right - here's a photo to confirm. I've taken one of the inside too, as it looks like it has been refurbed. If so, should it affect the sound quality? The bass seems rather resonant.....not in a bad way, but not quite what I'm used to!

Thank you again : )

[Colin Nicholson]

A very nice looking piano, and of good quality.

This is definitely the serial number in photo 1.

For the benefit of other new members on here aswell, its so much easier to date a piano when you can actually see the numbers on-screen. Some folk simply reel off various sets of numbers (with no photo to back it up) in an attempt to hit on the right one! I bet Bill would love a pound for every time he said ''without photos......''

The other number 4303 is not a serial number, but is likely to be a cabinet or stock number.... re mainly for the benefit of either the factory workers during assembly, or possibly the plinth made by the retailer to record their stock. If you remove the front panel (unhook the sconces first) .... this number may also be somewhere else.

The casework has certainly been well looked after, and I think the keys are ivory.... BUT.... sorry, I dont think its been fully restored inside - by that meaning the original old strings are still on, and the pedals & mechanism have not been restored. However, maybe the mechanism inside has had some work done to it. There is also a huge difference between ''restoration'' and ''refurbishment'' (or renovation) . If you take some photos of the internal mechanism from the front (hammers etc) - we'll know if its been 'refurbished' or not. 'Restoration' means that everything has been full restored.

Hope thats helpful

[Pookiewan]

Very helpful - thank you so much. I'm really thrilled with it - I keep on going into the living room just to check it's actually there and I haven't dreamed the whole thing!!

I'll try to take a photo of the insides and post it up.

Thank you again.