Can anyone identify this piano

[polarbear]

Hello,
Please could anyone identify the make/model of this upright piano? It has no serial numbers, make or model on it. Our tuner said he thought it might be a German piano. It has been in our family for 4 generations but its history before this is unknown. My mother thinks the wood might be walnut? The frame is metal. I can probably get better quality photos if needed. The piano has a lovely sound compared to other uprights (in my opinion) which is why I'd like to know what make she is.

[Bill Kibby]

The brass facing in between the iron frame could well be German, the pedals and music desk look German, and it is no surprise that the action is German, but it was common up to the 1914 war for English pianos to use German actions, as described at
http://pianogen.org/Edwardian.html

Also, for clues inside the piano, have a look at
http://pianogen.org/datemarks.html

If your tuner feels able to remove the action safely, it may be marked on the rear with the action makers' name and number, see
http://pianogen.org/numbers.html

I wonder if it is fair to say that this overstrung overdamper combination tends to be German too? Any comments from technicians? I'd like to see complete interior views above and below keyboard level.

[Colin Nicholson]

From an 'interior' point of view, I tune a similar looking piano to this (overstrung/overdamped) - Gors & Kallmann.... 3/4 frame. The whole wrest plank is covered in that brass sheet metal. Pressure bars throughout. However, the action didnt have turn buckles, it had 2 huge leaf springs at each side of the action standards - each spring having a hole that snapped into a metal plate - putting huge strain on the brackets.

I suspect that this may also be 3/4 frame? - there are no brace bars or surrounding cast iron 'heading' leading to the top - and typical to a Carl Mand I restored, the bass end also had this raised 'step' to allow for the bass strings to cross over. Looks German though.

To me, it looks like the wrest plank has been sprayed in gold (shiny bits could be the flash from the camera) - and simply an oval tin sheet placed over the treble end to simulate a partly exposed 'window' plank?

Its difficult to know the veneer here, it looks like burred walnut, but also heavily grained with brush marks to simulate a grain.

I think the owner may need to get a tuner out to look further - possible clues inside.

That's my guess!

[polarbear]

Hello,
Our tuner said he couldn't identify it as there was no ID on it at all, no serial numbers, manufacturers names or anything. He only that he thought it was German, he said that some German pianos had had their identification removed. I just thought it may be in the style of a certain manufacturer that someone may know of?
The camera did flash sorry but I can easily take more pictures if needed, just let me know which views (non-techy description please).
The piano has a beautiful sound far nicer than other uprights I've played which is why I wanted to know the manufacturer

Thank-you

[Bill Kibby]

There were examples where German pianos had their names removed around the 1914 war, and yet people still did buy German pianos in England. Mind you, many pianos lose their names one way or another. I can't see anything that I recognise as a particular make, and although most pianos were mass-produced, it is surprising how many variations there were in their outward appearance.

As I said before, it is possible we might learn more from complete interior views above and below keyboard level, as described at
http://pianogen.org/datemarks.html