Bansall & Sons

[bgarland]

Recently bought a house that has an old Bansall & Sons piano.
Just wondering if someone can give me some information, as of now all i can find is the patent # 22236
Any information at all would help, thank you !!

[Colin Nicholson]

Bansall & Son were based in London late 1800s.... est. 1883.
No serial numbers showing in the atlas - so no date can be offered (unless there is a number on the back of the action or side of first piano key?)
No information would be possible for patent numbers (e.g. age, history) unless a top make.
This could be the serial number, but none are shown in the book.

For more information, rough age, please send a JPG photo of the WHOLE piano - nothing on it. (see first topic for instructions how to download images) - please leave the lid open (fallboard covers the keys)
Possibly send a JPG photo of the front panel removed to see mechanism/ strings for a guide.
If piano is over-damped/ straight strung, would suggest around 1900 - 1910 (but that's a guess unless we can see the piano).

Possibly left in the house for a good reason!
Like getting info about a car/ boat/ house / antique etc.... can't just rely on a number alone - need to see it.

[Bill Kibby]

You describe that number as a patent, does it actually say "Patent no.22236? I have no record of Bansall having that patent. I have records of many piano patents that are not available elsewhere.

If, instead, it is a serial number, it would suggest a date around 1896. The best list I know of for dates of Bansall numbers is my own at
http://pianogen.org/numbers.html

The piano may also have a date inside, see
http://pianogen.org/datemarks.html

Are you able to post some photos of the piano here, or email them to me to post?