Collard and Collard History

[paulpip70]

Hello and greetings to all.
I'm a complete new researcher here so please bear with me and thanks in advance for your time and help.
My family has been in possession of an upright Collard and Collard piano for a lot of years now and due to relocation and personal reasons my mother has asked me to sell it for her so I'm looking at some research as to (1)...the best way to do this and (2)....some history so I can do some research as to value.
I appreciate you don't give valuations on this forum and fully respect that so any help with details so I can do my own research is greatly valued and appreciated.

Anyway pictures can probably speak a thousand words to you learned people so:

[Bill Kibby]

This is a typical Victorian Cottage Piano, as described at
http://pianogen.org/victorian.html

The handwritten number 97509 suggests that it was made around the early 1870s, as shown in the Collard entry about halfway down the page at
http://pianogen.org/numbers.html

No, we are not licensed valuers, but around East Anglia, unrestored Victorian pianos rarely fetch more than £90, and some do not reach £20. You don't say where you are in the world.

[paulpip70]

Thanks for the swift response Bill. We are based in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Thanks for the links too, very interesting reading and a credit to you. I wasn't expecting too much as regards to value, but would like it to go to a good home though. Anyway many thanks again.

[Bill Kibby]

It's a long drive from Yarmouth. When we were there last year, we saw a Cottage Piano of similar age waiting by the dustbins, and if I'd had a suitable vehicle with me, I would have taken it home! We are a bit overcrowded at the moment, unless someone sponsors us by providing a museum building. The alternative is to have a large bonfire of Edwardian uprights, to make space for more antiques. Send me an email if you have no luck.