Scotchers Ltd

[Joe9151]

My daughter bought a piano she had wanted to get cleaned up and tuned. Some of the keys stick and it is out of tune. I have tried to find information on the piano with not much luck. It is a Scotchers Ltd. the only number I found on it was on the right side top under the lid when lifted up. 2523 is very vivid and looks to be possibly a 9 on the end. 25239 if it is a 9. Do you have any history on this piano how old it is and would it be worth putting the money into to be put back in playing condition. Thank you,
Joe

[Colin Nicholson]

Hi Joe

Unless Bill (our History expert) can throw some light on it, there is no mention anywhere about this name. Many piano wholesalers (anonymous) added their own names to pianos, and many were known as box standard "Stencil" pianos (type 'Stencil Pianos' into google for a fuller explanation). However, you wont find any info about Scotchers (but maybe Scotch tape?), but about pianos with fictitious names - often added later as a decal or stencil to the fall (lid the covers the keys) - or sometimes a metal/tin/brass/ plastic plate screwed on? Some pianos were revamped and repolished, often losing the name altogether - however, remove the front panel, there may be clues inside.

Unfortunately many pianos do not have any history (or very little), nor are there any 'blue-prints' about certain specific pianos, and it is likely your daughter's piano was named amongst other names, such as cities, towns, brother's/ alias names etc.

Serial numbers are quite unique, and only applicable if the piano is named or known. The numbers you have will be of no help, and I suspect you may have found them stamped to the underside edge of the side panel (facing the ceiling) when you opened the top lid? .... this is normally a punched stock number, and there are no references for those.

Regarding whether its worth getting it playing again.... we can't answer that statement.... you will need to make an appointment with a piano tuner/technician/ restorer who will need to make an on-site & "on-the-spot" assessment in your home - and test the tuning pins/ wrest pin torque, and assess other repairs that may be needed. However, word of warning - some mechanism designs such as "spring & loop" or over-damped pianos are often the deadliest of sins, and many technician's wont touch them.

If you can upload a photo or two on here, we may be able to date it approx. for you, and also a photo of the mechanism with the front panel completely removed.

Hope that helps

Colin

[Bill Kibby]

As far as I am aware, Scotchers did not make any of the pianos, they were retailers and, like so many others, bought in pianos from anonymous wholesalers and put their name onto them. Have a look at
http://pianogen.org/datemarks.html

Nobody can advise you about what is worth doing without being there to inspect it.

[Colin Nicholson]

Don't forget Joe.... pianos are funny creatures! A weird name mentioned and a few numbers will not help in most cases. We can also approx. date pianos by their design, looks, carvings, truss work, any sconces/ fret work or marquetry - pedal designs, fallboard shapes, mechanism design - just like an antique piece of furniture or a clock movement would be inspected on Antiques Roadshow.... and NOTE, they dont do pianos!!

All information given here is also FREE, and we dont get paid a penny for doing it - its all "love" of the piano!!

If you would like a second opinion (which is often not needed after Bill has spoken), then try www.piercepianoatlas.com .... but, you have to a pay a one-off fee in advance, and its non-returnable even if they can't find any info on your piano. The money goes towards research.

[vernon]

Bill
Why can't you charge a one off fee for your erudite observations?
?
I'm sure most people would part with a few bob to fund your research that is offered free,

[Bill Kibby]

You obviously haven't looked at my website which repeatedly asks for donations, and points out that without them, I will be fine, but the PHC may not survive. I have been doing this a long time, believe me I know better than anyone else what I can expect, and the most generous donations are few and far between, they usually come from kind people who don't even ask for help. Fixed fees do not work, but people have the option of paying for printed researched reports. It is important to understand that by enforcing fees, we would turn away people who often have valuable information that could help others, and the project is about HISTORY. I have gone from a long major illness to state pension, I have no way of financing a proper museum building, so we wait and hope for sponsorship or some way through the funding process.

[Joe9151]

I do know that donations are needed but right now I am going through some major finacial problems myself. I was just trying to help my daughter out who is in the middle of a seperation. My home is being forclosed on and both of my vehichles are in the shop. I would like to donate but I am unable right now. I hope you understand.
Joe

[Bill Kibby]

And I hope you realise that it wasn't me who brought up the subject. These forums tend to wander off the subject. We have no information that tells us anything at all about your piano, so without photos, we have no answers for you.