J Pocock & Sons 5 octave small piano

[cajthomas]

Hi - I am trying to find some history on my little piano and it's manufacturer. The serial number is 17442, and the maker on the front of the piano is J Pocock & Sons, Chepstow Mansions, Westbourne Grove, London. The piano was given to me by my uncle who spent many years at sea, and he believed it to be a ship's piano. Inside the notes are marked against the tuning pins. It looks as though it had candle holders at one time, as some holes have been filled at each side of the front panel.
I searched for J Pocock on the internet and found on your site an old piano tuners directory listing for James Pocock, 41 Westbourne Grove, the first date being 1848 and the last 1854. You can view a picture of this piano via this link:
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/274/ ... lpiano.jpg
Thank you

[Bill Kibby]

Pianos are sometimes used on ships, but as I have said on many occasions, there appears to be no such thing as a "ship's piano", and in half a century, nobody has been cite one single example, or give me a definition. Yacht Pianos have fold-away keyboards, but this is more like the little "Student Pianofortes" that were popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. See
http://pianogen.org/edwardian.html
James Pocock established his business in 1842, but was not listed in the London directory up to 1845. The dates you mention probably originate in Rosamund Harding's book, which does not extend beyond the 1850s. 1848 onwards, he was listed at Westbourne Grove, which may have been his original address. Like many others he was listed among the Pianoforte Makers, but I have seen no evidence that he actually made the pianos.

Around 1891, the firm became known as James Pocock & Son. I would guess that your piano was made just after the 1914 war. The business continued through the twenties, but was apparently gone by 1936.

[cajthomas]

Many thanks Bill for the helpful information.

[cajthomas]

Hi, I forgot to ask; was it common practice then for "manufacturers" to put their name on pianos not made by them? Would the pianos have been imported?

[Bill Kibby]

Have a look at
http://pianogen.org/names.html