J Ridgway, 1 Broad Street, Hanley

[SteveMorris]

Hello, I have an upright piano made by J Ridgway, 1 Broad Street, Hanley. Does anybody have any information about this manufacturer? There is nothing coming up through regular internet searches. Thanks a lot. Steve Morris

[Gill the Piano]

This post would be better under Piano History - Bill will probably be able to help!

[Colin Nicholson]

Steve, welcome to the UK Forum

Are you from the USA by any chance?
Never heard of Hanley - is that a state/ district in the USA?

According to Pierce Piano Atlas (New Mexico piano census book), Ridgway were sole manufacturers for a retailer called O.K. Houck Pianos. Possibly somewhere in Memphis. They list some serial numbers between the years 1926 - 1931.

Then when I look at OK Houck & Co., it says the following:
"St Louis, Missouri, retailer, made by Blasius"

thats it - no further info & very sketchy, unless Bill has any further to add.

Colin

[Bill Kibby]

This is Hanley, Staffordshire. By 1886, Joseph Ridgway was at 1 Broad Street, Hanley and 1 Above Bar, Southampton. We have no evidence that he made pianos, he appears to have been one of the many retailers who put their names onto pianos bought in from anonymous wholesalers. In 1894 he was still at Broad Street, but his Southampton address was 135 Shirley Road. There was also a W.F. Ridgway in Leicester. By 1899, both firms had gone from the directories, so your piano is probably earlier than 1899. Any further clues would be inside the piano, but it might help if you could upload some images here, or email them to me.

[SteveMorris]

Colin, I am from Stafford, Staffordshire, UK.

Bill, you are right about it being Hanley, Staffordshire. You mention e-mailing some photos of the inside of the piano. What specifically would be useful?

Steve

[Bill Kibby]

Sorry that was badly worded, there were two separate points. Photos of the whole piano would be helpful. There may be clues hidden inside...

[Bill Kibby]

Here is one of your photos, and my estimate of the piano's date is 1909. The following link may help...
http://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-forum ... f=2&t=8859