Holmann Piano Help

[Lyndon Alfred]

Hi there,
I have a Holmann piano which I can't find any information about, so I presume they are no longer manufactured.
Is Holmann a well known maker of pianos? What country/city were/are they based in? It's currently a bit out of tune, so is it worth the cost of tuning it?

((Here are the specs of the piano:
Is an 88 key piano - the keys are numbered from 1 to 88.
Upright, Says Holmann in the centre under the music stand.
Says Schwander on the hammer rail. I'm presuming this means that it is Schwander Action.
Has the number 26.4.53 on the metal frame below the row of keys.
Also has the 'code'? H5A in capitals just above the date.
I can't find an obvious serial number anywhere on it.))
I also found the number 27444.

Here are a few photos of it (Attached)
I've tried to keep the file sizes as small as possible so they may be pixellated.
Hope they're enough!
Thanks,
Lyndon
P.S. I know the piano needs a clean where all the dust is down the bottom.

[Colin Nicholson]

Hi Lyndon

We don't have any info regarding Holmann pianos alone; these were not the makers of the piano, but instead an alias/ affiliated name used by Lambert of London, who may have been the manufacturers. Lambert are quite an old name, but they only list a few pianos in the 1950's. Holmann is probably a ''stencil piano'' (if you google those 2 words, it will explain for you)

Pianos are rarely dated by DD/MM/YY identification (sometimes the last 2 digits refer), but instead a 4-7 digit serial number code (consisting of numbers only, no letters). You can then let us know this serial number, or send an email to

http://www.piercepianoatlas.com who may be able to date it for you (but they charge in advance) .... even if no info available. But even themselves will need photos.

Schwander are the mechanism (action) makers only - nothing to do with the origin of the piano, they were owned by Herrburger Brooks, Long Eaton, Derbyshire,,,, who closed their factory in the late 1990's.

Other numbers/ letters etc are meaningless I'm afraid, and when we see posts with lots of ?????? ...... we are just as much in the dark as you!! Numbers & letters mixed dont help - so PHOTOS please!! (see my first post ''how to download an image.....'')

You are recommended to upload some photos of your piano - then we may be able to date it approx for you - its best we see it......

1. Photo of the whole front inc. legs/ panels/ LID OPEN
2. '' name on the fallboard
3. Front panel completely removed/ photo of mechanism
4. Photo of a series of number ONLY (look near tuning pins/ soundboard)

Any other interesting things - send a photo. So however you have translated your post into what you have seen (text).... this needs to be converted into an image so we can see it and relate it. Don't forget, millions of pianos are like your!

''Is it worth tuning?''...... sorry, can't answer that question. Just pick up the phone and book a piano tuner.... when they arrive, they'll then tell you whether it's worth tuning or not. ''Worth'' usually means...... ''should I pay some money to have it tuned?''.... when I think you meant, ''Can it be tuned''? .... a tuning is around 50 quid - and takes between 60 - 90 mins, depending on its condition/ tuning pins/ strings/ mechanism working fine etc....

Hope that helps....

Colin